Ô Canada! mon pays, mes amours
Encyclopedia
The lyrics to "Ô Canada! mon pays, mes amours", a French-Canadian song, were written by George-Étienne Cartier
, and are not to be confused with the other O Canada
(of 1880 origin), which today is the official anthem of Canada
. They were first sung in 1834, during a patriotic banquet of the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society
held in Montreal. The words were first published in the June 29, 1835 edition of La Minerve. It was later published in Le Chansonnier des collèges (Quebec 1850), this time with music, but with only four of the original six verses. It was reproduced in Le Passe-Temps for June 21, 1913. The song was recorded on 78 RPM discs by both Victor Occellier and Joseph Saucier around the turn of the century and in 1925 or 1926 by Rodolphe Plamondon http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0006322. Roger Doucet
included it in his LP Chants glorieux (Songs of Glory) in 1976.
The music currently used was composed by Jean-Baptiste Labelle
. It is uncertain when the lyrics and music were put together, probably by Ernest Gagnon
sometime between 1850 and 1868.
Rien n'est si beau que son pays;
Et de le chanter, c'est l'usage;
Le mien je chante à mes amis
L'étranger voit avec un oeil d'envie
Du Saint-Laurent le majestueux cours;
À son aspect le Canadien s'écrie:
Ô Canada! mon pays! mes amours!
Nothing is more beautiful than one's country;
And to sing it is the tradition;
And mine I sing to my friends
The stranger looks with an envious eye
Of the St. Lawrence the majestic course;
At its aspect the Canadian sings:
O Canada! my country! my love!
George-Étienne Cartier
Sir George-Étienne Cartier, 1st Baronet, PC was a French-Canadian statesman and Father of Confederation.The English spelling of the name, George, instead of Georges, the usual French spelling, is explained by his having been named in honour of King George III....
, and are not to be confused with the other O Canada
O Canada
It has been noted that the opening theme of "O Canada" bears a strong resemblance to the "Marsch der Priester" , from the opera Die Zauberflöte , composed in 1791 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and that Lavallée's melody was inspired by Mozart's tune...
(of 1880 origin), which today is the official anthem of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. They were first sung in 1834, during a patriotic banquet of the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society
Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society
The Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society is an institution in Quebec dedicated to the protection of Quebec francophone interests and to the promotion of Quebec Sovereignism. Its current President is Mario Beaulieu....
held in Montreal. The words were first published in the June 29, 1835 edition of La Minerve. It was later published in Le Chansonnier des collèges (Quebec 1850), this time with music, but with only four of the original six verses. It was reproduced in Le Passe-Temps for June 21, 1913. The song was recorded on 78 RPM discs by both Victor Occellier and Joseph Saucier around the turn of the century and in 1925 or 1926 by Rodolphe Plamondon http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0006322. Roger Doucet
Roger Doucet
Roger Doucet, CM was a Canadian tenor best known for singing the Canadian national anthem, "O Canada", on televised games of the Montreal Canadiens, Montreal Alouettes, and Montreal Expos during the 1970s...
included it in his LP Chants glorieux (Songs of Glory) in 1976.
The music currently used was composed by Jean-Baptiste Labelle
Jean-Baptiste Labelle
Jean-Baptiste Labelle was a Canadian composer, organist, pianist, and conductor. He is best known for composing the music to the song Ô Canada! mon pays, mes amours with words by George-Étienne Cartier. He also used words by Cartier for the song Avant tout je suis Canadien...
. It is uncertain when the lyrics and music were put together, probably by Ernest Gagnon
Ernest Gagnon
Ernest Gagnon was a Canadian folklorist, composer, and organist. He is best known for compiling a large amount of French Canadian folk music which he published as Chansons populaires du Canada in 1865-1867...
sometime between 1850 and 1868.
Excerpt
Comme le dit un vieil adage:Rien n'est si beau que son pays;
Et de le chanter, c'est l'usage;
Le mien je chante à mes amis
L'étranger voit avec un oeil d'envie
Du Saint-Laurent le majestueux cours;
À son aspect le Canadien s'écrie:
Ô Canada! mon pays! mes amours!
English translation
As the old proverb says:Nothing is more beautiful than one's country;
And to sing it is the tradition;
And mine I sing to my friends
The stranger looks with an envious eye
Of the St. Lawrence the majestic course;
At its aspect the Canadian sings:
O Canada! my country! my love!
External links
Sound recordings from Library and Archives CanadaLibrary and Archives Canada
Library and Archives Canada is a national memory institution dedicated to providing the best possible account of Canadian life through acquiring, preserving and making Canada's documentary heritage accessible for use in the 21st century and beyond...