'O CANADA!'

Evening Star, Issue 14627, 25 July 1911, Page 2

'O CANADA!'

The music of ' O Canada!' was written some years ago by Laval lee, a FrenchCanadian, and when played in Toronto before King George on his visit there as Prince of Wales he requested to have it repeated. This made the air very popular, and to-day it is played on all ceremonial occasion? and sung in the schools throughout, the Dominion. In Quebec and Montreal it is playod after three bars of ' God Save the King,' at the conclusion of public entertainments. The first words were written by Judge Routier, and it is a translation of these that has been sung from ono end of Canada to the other. The music is fine and stirring, and has taken hold of the country as one of the national airs. To replace Judge Routicr's words, which are merely a translation from the French version, Miss Catherine Merritt has written the following words to supply the Imperial thought and give the children of the schools a chorus which will be recalled by them whenever they hear the tune, and will hereafter become for them an Imperial anthem.

• 0 CANADA !' (To be snug to the music by La valley.) 0 Canada : Of Nature, blest, art thou : Snows, dazzling white, with geni.s adorn

thy brow. Thou art clothed in sheen of the evergreen And the maple, glowing red, And for canopy spiead out over thee The blue skv overhead.

Chorus: O Canada, proclaim afar! Our wealth, our service, and our lives we will bring. Hands all around the world for Empiiv and King. 0 Canada ! Upon thy Hag of peace-, Rose, shamrock, thistle, and the fleur-de-lis ; They are broidered fair on the robes yon wear, And they stand for love and strength ; To proclaim aloud our Dominion proud. And the reign of peace- at length. I Chorus.) 0 Canada ! Thy destiny is near. See where thy star shines out in radiance clear ; Like a brilliant gem in a diadem. Thou wilt lend thy Light and Worth. In a Crown we see. is thy destiny To illuminate the Earth. (Chorus.)