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On the topic of great anthems...

Silver

Well-known member
In my opinion this should be our anthem and nearly was. I think it is by far the nicest sounding anthem I've ever heard.

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The Maple Leaf Forever is a Canadian song written by Alexander Muir (1830–1906) in 1867, the year of Canada's Confederation. Muir was said to have been inspired to write this song by a huge maple tree which stood on his property: Maple Cottage, a house at Memory Lane and Laing Street in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The song became quite popular in English Canada and for many years served as an unofficial national anthem. Because of its strongly British perspective it became unpopular amongst French Canadians, and this prevented it from ever becoming an official anthem, even though it was seriously considered for that role.

It has been asserted that Muir's words, however, while certainly pro-British, were not anti-French, and he revised the lyrics of the first verse to "Here may it [the Union Jack] wave, our boast, our pride, and join in love together / The Lily, Thistle, Shamrock, Rose, the Maple Leaf forever"; adding "Lily," a French symbol, to the list. According to other accounts, this was actually the original wording. Muir was attempting to express that under the Union Flag the British and French were united as Canadians.[1]

It is also the authorized regimental march of The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada and The Royal Westminster Regiment.



In days of yore, from Britain's shore,

Wolfe, the dauntless hero came,
And planted firm Britannia's flag,
On Canada's fair domain.
Here may it wave, our boast, our pride,
And joined in love together,
The thistle, shamrock, rose entwine


The Maple Leaf forever!
Chorus:
The Maple Leaf, our emblem dear,
The Maple Leaf forever!
God save our Queen, and Heaven bless,
The Maple Leaf forever!

At Queenston Heights and Lundy's Lane,
Our brave fathers, side by side,
For freedom, homes, and loved ones dear,
Firmly stood and nobly died;
And those dear rights which they maintained,
We swear to yield them never!
Our watchword evermore shall be,
The Maple Leaf forever!

Chorus:
Our fair Dominion now extends
From Cape Race to Nootka Sound;
May peace forever be our lot,
And plenteous store abound:
And may those ties of love be ours
Which discord cannot sever,
And flourish green o'er freedom's home
The Maple Leaf forever!
Chorus:
On merry England's far famed land
May kind heaven sweetly smile,
God bless old Scotland evermore
and Ireland's Em'rald Isle!
And swell the song both loud and long
Till rocks and forest quiver!
God save our Queen and Heaven bless
The Maple Leaf forever!
Chorus:
 

Silver

Well-known member
Mrs.Greg said:
I've never seen this song before...very pretty words,although I love our anthem muchly :)

If you've ever watched the CBC series "For King and Country" on Canada's role in WW1 (or if you haven't, you should if you get the chance, it's very interesting and well done), there is a scene right at the beginning and I think after every commercial break that shows thousands of Canadian soldiers marching off, and 'The Maple Leaf Forever' is being played on bagpipes. Something gets in my eye everytime they play that scene, our dear old 'O Canada' (as fine as it is) just couldn't quite have the same affect.
It's kind of interesting too in that it mentions Queenston Heights and Lundy's Lane which were battles fought (and lost :cry: ) against the Americans in the war of 1812.
 

Mrs.Greg

Well-known member
Silver said:
Mrs.Greg said:
I've never seen this song before...very pretty words,although I love our anthem muchly :)

If you've ever watched the CBC series "For King and Country" on Canada's role in WW1 (or if you haven't, you should if you get the chance, it's very interesting and well done), there is a scene right at the beginning and I think after every commercial break that shows thousands of Canadian soldiers marching off, and 'The Maple Leaf Forever' is being played on bagpipes. Something gets in my eye everytime they play that scene, our dear old 'O Canada' (as fine as it is) just couldn't quite have the same affect.
Anything played on the bagpipes softens my heart.I've never seen the show but will watch for it now,thx for the heads up :)
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
DJL said:
We used to sing the Maple Leaf Forever and Oh Canada on alternate days in elementary school.

I grew up to listening to "Oh Canada"... It and the Star Spangled Banner were the " Bareback riders get ready"...Then they came up with this other one....
 
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