"The Maple Leaf Forever" is a Canadian patriotic song written by Alexander Muir (1830–1906) in 1867, the year of Canada's Confederation. He wrote the work after serving with the Queen's Own Rifles of Toronto in the Battle of Ridgeway against the Fenians in 1866.

History

Muir was said to have been inspired to write this song by a large maple tree which stood on his street in front of Maple Cottage, a house at Memory Lane and Laing Street in Toronto. 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 state anthem, even though it was seriously considered for that role and was even used as a de facto state anthem in many instances.

The tree which inspired Muir's song fell during a windstorm on the night of July 19–20, 2013. Wood from the tree was used to make objects that will preserve its importance to Canadian culture, including the speaker's podium for Toronto City Council, and the Maple Leaf Forever Guitars. Residents have expressed their hope that the city will be able to start a new tree from one of the branches.

During the early 1870s, Alexander Muir was an elementary school teacher in Newmarket, north of Toronto. When the cornerstone of the Christian Church in Newmarket was being laid on June 25, 1874, by the Governor General, Lord Dufferin, Muir brought his school choir to the event to sing his new composition, "The Maple Leaf Forever", its first public performance.

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 from "Here may it wave, our boast, our pride, and join in love together / The Thistle, Shamrock, Rose entwine" to "/ The Lily, Thistle, Shamrock, Rose, the Maple Leaf forever" the thistle represented Scotland; the shamrock, Ireland; and the rose, England adding "Lily", a French symbol, to the list. Muir was attempting to express that under the Union Flag, the British and French were united as Canadians.

"The Maple Leaf Forever" is also the authorized regimental march of The Royal Westminster Regiment. Additionally, it is the Regimental Slow March of the Fort Henry Guard.

The song makes reference to James Wolfe capturing Quebec in 1759 during the Seven Years' War and the Battle of Queenston Heights and Battle of Lundy's Lane during the War of 1812.

Lyrics
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 (Also sung: The lily, thistle, shamrock, rose)
The Maple Leaf forever!

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

Chorus

Alternative lyrics

CBC Radio's Metro Morning show in Toronto ran a contest to find new lyrics for the song in 1997. The contest was won by Romanian immigrant, mathematician, and now a songwriter, actor and poet, Vladimir Radian, who came to Canada in the 1980s. This version received its first full orchestral treatment on June 27, 1997, at a concert by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.

The new version removed all references to British-Canadian heritage, but added a special reference to Quebec's provincial symbol, the fleur-de-lis.

Padre G. E. Benton, a former Canadian army chaplain, also wrote a revised version.

The Canadian vocal harmony trio "Finest Kind" (Ian Robb, Ann Downey and Shelley Posen) recorded "The Maple Leaf Forever" on their 2003 CD "Silks & Spices". This version, with new words co-written by Posen and Robb and harmony arrangement by the trio, was sung at the ceremonial planting in Ottawa of two silver maple seedlings: direct descendants of the tree which is thought to have inspired Alexander Muir to write the original song in 1867. The ceremony occurred on November 2, 2014, and was attended by several local dignitaries and military veterans. The words acknowledge the Aboriginal, French, English and "new Canadian" contributions to the evolution of Canada, and highlight Canada's more recent military role as peacekeepers "where hate and war divide". The second verse also references John McCrae's iconic First World War poem "In Flanders Fields".

Maple Leaf Gardens / Winter Olympics

During the final game of the Toronto Maple Leafs at their former home arena, Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Anne Murray sang another version (modified from Radian's version) of the Maple Leaf Forever. This version was also used by Michael Bublé during the 2010 Winter Olympics closing ceremony.

See also

 Anthems and nationalistic songs of Canada
 Music of Canada

References

External links
 
 
 Article on Maple Cottage, Leslieville (Toronto) and "The Maple Leaf Forever"
 The Maple Leaf Forever Johnson, Edward, 1878–1959

Canadian military marches
1867 songs
Canadian anthems
Royal anthems
Historical national anthems
Songs based on Canadian history
British-Canadian culture
Monarchism in Canada
Canadian Confederation
단풍잎이여 영원하라()는 캐나다의 옛 사실상 국가로 영국의 식민지 시절 영국을 찬양하기 위해 작사 작곡된 국가이다. 1980년까지 정부기관과 단체에 써진 이 노래는 현재는 캐나다 육군 사단 군악대에서 기념일에 쓰이는 행진곡으로 간간히 불리고 있다. 1982년에 영국이 캐나다 지배에 완전히 물러 나가면서 "오 캐나다" ()가 사용됐다.

역사 
"The Maple Leaf Forever"는 캐나다 군인 알랙산더 무일 ({{|lang|en|Alexander Muir}})이 1866년 리지웨이의 배틀 (Battle of Ridgeway)에서 영국을 위해 싸운 뒤에 작사/작곡한 곡이다.

가사 

1절

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!

후렴

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

2절

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!

후렴

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

3절

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!

후렴

The Maple Leaf, our emblem dear,
The Maple Leaf forever!
And flourish green o'er freedom's home
The Maple Leaf forever!

3절

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!

후렴

The Maple Leaf, our emblem dear,
The Maple Leaf forever!
God save our Queen and Heaven bless
the maple leaf forever!

해석 

1절

오래전 영국의 바다에서
무적의 영웅 월프가 와서
캐나다의 평등한 땅에
브리태니아의 기를 단단히 꽂았네
파도가 치는 이곳은 우리의 자랑이자 자존심,
우리 모두 사랑하며 단합하자
엉겅퀴와 토끼풀과 장미에 둘러싸인
단풍잎이여 영원하라!

후렴

단풍잎, 우리의 소중한 국장이여
단풍잎이여 영원하라!
우리 여왕폐하께 축복이 있기를
단풍잎이여 영원하라!

2절

퀸스턴 하이츠와 런디즈 레인에서
우리는 용감한 조상들 사이에서
가정과 사랑하는 이들의 자유를 위해
꿋꿋하게 지키다가 숭고하게 희생했네
그리고 이들의 소중한 권리를 지켜내어
우리의 지위를 절대 넘겨주지 않겠다 맹세하네
우리의 표어는 변하지 않으리라
단풍잎이여 영원하라!

후렴

단풍잎, 우리의 소중한 국장이여
단풍잎이여 영원하라!
우리 여왕폐하께 축복이 있기를
단풍잎이여 영원하라!

3절

이제 우리의 식민지는 어느새 커져갔네
레이스곶에서 누카 해협까지
우리 땅에 영원한 평화가 있도록
많은 상점에 풍년이 들 것이라
우리를 향한 애정과 인연은
싸움과 투쟁도 막을 수 없으니
그리고 자유에 땅에 푸른 나무가 우거지리라
단풍잎이여 영원하라!

후렴

단풍잎, 우리의 소중한 국장이여
단풍잎이여 영원하라!
우리의 여왕폐하께 축복이 있기를
단풍잎이여 영원하라!

4절

즐거운 잉글랜드의 널리 알려진 땅에
천국은 감미로운 미소를 짓네
신께서 언제나 오래된 스코틀랜드와
아일랜드의 에메랄드빛 섬들을 축복하시니
힘차고 기나긴 우리의 노래가
바위와 숲에 사무치리라
우리의 여왕폐하께 축복이 있기를
단풍잎이여 영원하라!

후렴

단풍잎, 우리의 소중한 국장이여
단풍잎이여 영원하라!
우리의 여왕폐하께 축복이 있기를
단풍잎이여 영원하라!

캐나다의 음악
1867년 노래
캐나다의 군주주의