O' Canada, my proposed changes

Why?

 

I think the edited version sounds much better.

 

What do i think? let it be, no need to change it. We can be can be accepted, we can improve this country without changing our historical institutions. lets move forward, we have no need to change what was and what has made this country good and one of the most accepting of us in the world. not to say that there isn't plenty of work to do but we need to look forward, not backwards.

just my .02

 

I'm not Canadian, but I'd suggest:

Whether you chose it or not, the song is for people who do make it their home. So putting the two together makes sense to me.

 

I propose a change to Australia's national anthem;

For those who come across the seas,
We've detention for refugees.

--

Seriously, though, those changes you made would be a lot better. Your national anthem is slightly archaic, and could do with a bit of a freshening with all-inclusiveness.

 

I remember reading once that they wanted to change it to "In all of us command." I do agree that it should be "chosen" land, as that's what it would be in my case. We've pondered that idea before and are keeping the option open.

And Aussie, I remember reading about how Julia Gillard had a fit that Christian schools were singing Advance Australia Fair with the second verse as,

With Christ our head and cornerstone,
We'll build our Nation's might.
Whose way and truth and light alone
Can guide our path aright.
Our lives, a sacrifice of love
Reflect our Master's care.
With faces turned to heaven above
Advance Australia fair.
In joyful strains then let us sing
Advance Australia fair!

O Canada and Advance Australia Fair are my two favorite national anthems. Personally, I'm not a big fan of the Star Spangled Banner, for the reason I like Advance Australia Fair: national anthems are supposed to talk about how great the country is, not tell a war story. Even with its mentions of a god, "America the Beautiful" would have made a better anthem, IMO. Although with the current state of our government, the second verse is a tad ironic.

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassioned stress
A thoroughfare of freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!

 

I like America the Beautiful better as well, and not just because it can be played properly on my instrument and the Star Spangled Banner can't. I think a national anthem should be simple enough that the average person can sing it properly (even if somewhat off-key) without much dificulty. The Star Spangled Banner is actually a technically challenging tune to sing properly because it has such a range of pitches. Most people have a range of just over an octave. Star Spangled Banner is almost 2 octaves wide. (Some people cheat when singing it and jump octaves)

 

Id re-compose and re-write it.
Sounds horrible in my opinion,no matter how much you edit it.

 

The older version used to have an alternate ending:

O Canada, glorious and free
We stand on guard for rights and liberty
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee

Bilingual version by the great Jacques Doucet (ending is in English):

[YOUTUBE]Cx3llCmWJSI[/YOUTUBE]

 

It's not a bad edit, but I don't want it changed lol.

 

I think it's fine the way it is

 

It appears I was mistaken -- these were never official lyrics. Jacques Doucet just introduced them at the Forum as a protest against Bill 101 in Quebec limiting the use of English. I like it.

 

As a Canadian, I approve.