The lyrics to "", meaning "O Canada! my country, my love" is a French-Canadian patriotic song. It was written by George-Étienne Cartier and 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 . It was later published in (Quebec 1850), this time with music, but with only four of the original six verses. It was reproduced in on 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 Roger Doucet included it in his LP (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.

Excerpt

<poem>

</poem>

English translation

<poem>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!

</poem>

See also

  • Canadian patriotic music
  • Music of Quebec

References

  • Sound recording from Library and Archives Canada