Tonight's Karaok, eh?

[howeird]

English: O Canada! Our home and native land! True patriot love in all thy sons command. With glowing hearts we see thee rise, The True North strong and free! From far and wide, O Canada, We stand on guard for thee. God keep our land glorious and free! O Canada, we stand on guard for thee. O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

Français: Ô Canada! Terre de nos aïeux, Ton front est ceint de fleurons glorieux! Car ton bras sait porter l'épée, Il sait porter la croix! Ton histoire est une épopée Des plus brillants exploits. Et ta valeur, de foi trempée, Protégera nos foyers et nos droits, Protégera nos foyers et nos droits.

Comments

[smallship1.livejournal.com]

If those are the actual English and French lyrics (I never know with you, especially when you're being mischievous) then it's interesting to look at how they're not actually related in any way beyond the first line.

The French version in English:

Oh Canada,
Land of our ancestors,
Your brow is bound with victorious wreaths,
For your arm knows how to bear the sword,
It knows how to bear the cross!
Your history is a...erm, chronicle?...
Of the most brilliant exploits.
And your valour, steeped in faith,
Protects our hearths and our roights...I mean rights (twice, just in case).

I mean, it's all good, but I'm sure whoever translated which to which could have got a bit closer...

[pyrzqxgl.livejournal.com]

My Canadaphile younger son goes around singing bits of this. Though the first time I heard it (prior to having read the lyrics) I had a major WTF because the singer made "stand on guard" sound like "stand on God".

[howeird]

I found it on the Internet, it must be right. :-)

Looking further, Wikipedia says the French lyrics, which you translated accurately, were the original, but the English has been revised a couple of times, hence the disparity.

The Wiki article is here and includes English, French and Inuit as well as their English translations.

[howeird]

Well, "stand on guard" isn't much less of a WTF, considering it's Canada. :-)