O Canada

"O Canada" is the national anthem of Canada.

Official French lyrics

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Ô Canada ! Terre de nos aïeux,

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Ton front est ceint de fleurons glorieux !

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Car ton bras sait porter l'épée,

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Il sait porter la croix;

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Ton histoire est une épopée

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Des plus brillants exploits.

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Et ta valeur de foi trempée

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Protégera nos foyers et nos droits;

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Protégera nos foyers et nos droits.

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Gloss of the French lyrics:

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O Canada! Home of our ancestors,

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Your brow is wreathed with glorious garlands!

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Just as your arm knows how to wield the sword,

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It also knows how to bear the cross;

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Your history is an epic

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Of the most brilliant feats.

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And your valour steeped in faith

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Will protect our homes and our rights;

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Will protect our homes and our rights.

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Often, singers at public events mix the English and French lyrics in order to represent Canada's linguistic duality. The most common patterns are to sing the first two lines in English, the next four lines in French and the remainder in English, or to sing the first six lines in French and the remainder in English. Other patterns also exist.

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