The Maple Leaf Forever

The Maple Leaf Forever was written in 1867 by Alexander Muir (1830-1906), the same year as 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 strongly British perspective it never became popular among French-Canadians and this prevented it from ever becoming an official anthem.

Lyrics

FIRST VERSE

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 join in love together,
The thistle, shamrock, rose entwined,
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.

SECOND VERSE

At Queenston Heights and Lundy's Lane
Our brave fathers side by side
For freedom's home and loved ones dear,
Firmly stood and nobly died.
And so their rights which they maintained,
We swear to yield them never.
Our watchword ever more shall be:
The Maple Leaf Forever!

CHORUS

THIRD VERSE

Our fair Dominion now extends
From Cape Race to Nootka Sound
May peace forever be our lot
And plenty a store abound
And may those ties of love be ours
Which discord cannot sever
And flourish green for freedom's home
The Maple Leaf Forever.

CHORUS