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The Maple Leaf Forever is a Canadian song written by Alexander Muir (1830–1906) in 1867, the year of Canada's Confederation. Muir was said to have been inspired to write this song by a huge maple tree which stood on his property: Maple Cottage, a house at Memory Lane and Laing Street in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 anthem.

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 to "Here may it [the Union Jack] wave, our boast, our pride, and join in love together / The Lily, Thistle, Shamrock, Rose, the Maple Leaf forever"; adding "Lily," a French symbol, to the list. According to other accounts, this was actually the original wording. Muir was attempting to express that under the Union Jack the British and French were united as Canadians.^[1]

It is also the authorized regimental march of The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada and The Royal Westminster Regiment.

The lyrics and tune of the song have been adapted as the school song of Anglo-Chinese School and Anglo-Chinese Junior College in Singapore.

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

CBC Radio's Metro Morning show in Toronto ran a controversial contest to find new lyrics for the song in 1997. The contest was won by Romanian émigré, 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.

It was criticised for its censorship and/or revisionism of history, as well as for removing "British" symbolism, such as the Union Jack, but inserting references to "French" symbols like the Fleur de Lys.^[2]

O, land of blue unending skies,
Mountains strong and sparkling snow,
A scent of freedom in the wind,
O'er the emerald fields below.

To thee we brought our hopes, our dreams,
For thee we stand together,
Our land of peace, where proudly flies,
The Maple Leaf forever.

Chorus:
Long may it wave, and grace our own,
Blue skies and stormy weather,
Within my heart, above my home,
The Maple Leaf forever!

From East and West, our heroes came,
Through icy fields and frozen bays,
Who conquered fear, and cold, and hate,
And their ancient wisdom says:

Protect the weak, defend your rights,
And build this land together,
Above which shine the Northern Lights,
And the Maple Leaf forever!

(Chorus)

Sur mers sauvages ou glaciers durs,
Tant d'héros se sont suivis,
En conquérant la peur, le froid,
Et les tempêtes de leurs vies.

Et tant de braves, rouges ou blancs,
Reposent ici ensemble,
De noble sang, de tant de neige,
Est née la feuille d'érable.

Refrain
De leurs exploits, de leurs travaux,
Et leur courage sublime,
Dans leurs vieux rêves réunis,
Puisons nouvelles racines.

Refrain Reprise
Sur nos montagnes, dans nos prairies,
À travers temps et sable,
Aimons toujours la fleur de lys,
Toujours, la feuille d'érable.

Oh, Maple Leaf, around the world,
You speak as you rise high above,
Of courage, peace and quiet strength,
Of the Canada I love.

Remind us all our union bound,
By ties we cannot sever,
Bright flag revered on every ground,
The Maple Leaf forever!

(Chorus)

• Criticism of CBC Version
• Article on Maple Cottage, Leslieville (Toronto) and "The Maple Leaf Forever"
• The Maple Leaf Forever MP3
• The Maple Leaf Forever MIDI File
• The Maple Leaf Forever Johnson, Edward, 1878-1959