National Anthem Stupidity

 Tonight, being Halloween, and also Game 6 of the World Series between the Blue Jays and Dodgers has people here in Canada riled up and talking about how horrible the anthem performances were in Los Angeles. 

I didn't really catch much of them, honestly. I did catch Rufus Wainright sounding like he was just mumbling the French portion. (Hint: If you're not sure of those words, don't sing 'em) 

Others complained about the "our home on Native Land" line. The actual line is Home and Native Land. 

And thirdly, and something that people have been bitching about since it happened, was returning the line "in all of us command" to the anthem, replacing "in all thy sons command" 

A little History:

The original lyrics for O Canada came up in 1880. The song was a result of being commissioned to write a song for a Royal Visit. 

The original English Lyrics came to be in 1908. They are not a direct translation of the French Lyrics. 

English lyrics by Robert Stanley Weir

O Canada! Our home and native land!
True patriot love thou dost in us command.
We see thee rising fair, dear land,
The True North, strong and free;
And stand on guard, O Canada,
We stand on guard for thee.


(Refrain)
O Canada! O Canada!
O Canada! We stand on guard for thee,
O Canada! We stand on guard for thee.


O Canada! Where pines and maples grow,
Great prairies spread and lordly rivers flow,
How dear to us thy broad domain,
From East to Western sea!
Thou land of hope for all who toil!
Thou True North, strong and free!


(Refrain)


O Canada! Beneath thy shining skies
May stalwart sons and gentle maidens rise,
To keep thee steadfast through the years
From East to Western sea,
Our own beloved native land,
Our True North, strong and free!


(Refrain)


Ruler Supreme, Who hearest humble prayer,
Hold our dominion within Thy loving care.
Help us to find, O God, in Thee
A lasting, rich reward,
As waiting for the Better Day,
We ever stand on guard.


(Refrain)

Now of course, we only sing the first line for the anthem. Can you imagine how long it'd drag out to do the whole thing? 

French lyrics by Sir Adolphe-Basile Routhier

O Canada! Terre de nos aïeux,
Ton front est ceint de fleurons glorieux!
Car ton bras sait porter l’épée,
Il sait porter la croix!


Ton histoire est une épopée
Des plus brillants exploits.
Et ta valeur, de foi trempée,


Protégera nos foyers et nos droits,
Protégera nos foyers et nos droits.


Sous l’oeil de Dieu, près du fleuve géant,
Le Canadien grandit en espérant.
Il est né d’une race fière,
Béni fut son berceau:
Le ciel a marqué sa carrière
Dans ce monde nouveau.
Toujours guidé par sa lumière,
Il gardera l’honneur de son drapeau,
Il gardera l’honneur de son drapeau.


De son patron, précurseur du vrai Dieu,
Il porte au front l’auréole de feu.
Ennemi de la tyrannie
Mais plein de loyauté.
Il veut garder dans l’harmonie,
Sa fière liberté;
Et par l’effort de son génie,
Sur notre sol asseoir la vérité,
Sur notre sol asseoir la vérité.


Amour sacré du trône et de l’autel,
Remplis nos coeurs de ton souffle immortel!
Parmi les races étrangères,
Notre guide est la loi;
Sachons être un peuple de frères,
Sous le joug de la foi.
Et répétons, comme nos pères,
Le cri vainqueur: “Pour le Christ et le roi,”
Le cri vainqueur: “Pour le Christ et le roi.”

 These are the French Lyrics. I'll post the translation below. 

O Canada! Land of our ancestors,
Your brow is crowned with glorious laurels!
For your arm knows how to wield the sword,
It knows how to bear the cross!


Your history is an epic
Of the most brilliant exploits.
And your valor, tempered by faith,


Will protect our homes and our rights,
Will protect our homes and our rights.


Under God's eye, near the mighty river,
The Canadian grows up in hope.
He is born of a proud race,
Blessed was his cradle:
Heaven has marked his path
In this new world.
Always guided by its light,
He will keep the honor of his flag,
He will keep the honor of his flag.


From his patron, precursor of the true God,
He wears on his brow the halo of fire.
Enemy of tyranny
But full of loyalty.
He wants to keep in harmony,
His proud liberty;
And by the effort of his genius,
To establish truth on our soil,
To establish truth on our soil.


Sacred love of throne and altar,
fill our hearts with your immortal breath!
Among foreign races,
our guide is the law;
let us be a people of brothers,
under the yoke of faith.
And let us repeat, like our fathers,
the victorious cry: “For Christ and the King,”
the victorious cry: “For Christ and the King.”

So, in 1913, the line "True Patriot Love in thou dost us command" was changed to "True Patriot Love in all thy sons command" 

It stayed that way from 1913 until the 2000s, when it was changed to "True patriot love in all of us command" 

Well, this change got people all in a lather. Blaming Justin Trudeau because his government had the audacity to touch the anthem, and they say it was for "woke bullshit purposes" 

They're still angry about Trudeau changing the anthem. Some say it makes us sound less serious as a country. In fact one such person is arguing with me on the Twitmachine. 

I honestly think it's a case of Trudeau Derangement though. Considering he's still calling JT a pussy and blaming him for everything.. Blah blah blah.

Anyway. This has been on my mind and just wanted to get it out.