The song was originally commissioned by Lieutenant Governor of Quebec Théodore Robitaille for the 1880 Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day ceremony; Calixa Lavallée composed the music, after which French-language words were written by the poet and judge Sir Adolphe-Basile Routhier.

[1][3] "O Canada" is a 28-bar song originally written in the key of F major for four voices and piano, as a march in 4/4 time to be played "maestoso e risoluto" ("majestic and resolved").

[11] The lyrics and melody of "O Canada" are both in the public domain,[1] a status unaffected by the trademarking of the phrases "with glowing hearts" and "des plus brillants exploits" for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

[14] Similarly, the Canadian Army's motto is Vigilamus pro te (we stand on guard for thee).

The lyrics have been translated into several indigenous languages of Canada, including Inuktitut, Ojibwe,[15] Cree[16] and Mi'kmaq.

[19] In fact, many made English translations of Routhier's words; however, the most popular version was created in 1908 by Robert Stanley Weir, a lawyer and Recorder of the City of Montreal.

[25][26] Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson in 1964 said one song would have to be chosen as the country's national anthem and the government resolved to form a joint committee to review the status of the two musical works.

For "O Canada", the Robert Stanley Weir version of 1908 was recommended for the English words, with a few minor changes: two of the "stand on guard" phrases were replaced with "from far and wide" and "God keep our land".

[24][4] The Act replaced two of the repetitions of the phrase "We stand on guard" in the English lyrics, as had been proposed by the Senate Special Joint Committee.

This change was controversial with traditionalists and, for several years afterwards, it was not uncommon to hear people still singing the old lyrics at public events.

[22] In the late 2000s, the anthem's religious references (to God in English and to the Christian cross in French) were criticized by secularists.

[31] In the speech from the throne delivered by Governor General Michaëlle Jean on March 3, 2010, a plan to have parliament review the "original gender-neutral wording of the national anthem" was announced.

[32] However, three-quarters of Canadians polled after the speech objected to the proposal and,[33] two days later, the prime minister's office announced that the cabinet had decided not to change the original lyrics.

[34] In another attempt to make the anthem gender-neutral, Liberal MP Mauril Bélanger introduced a private member's bill in September 2014.

[37] The bill passed its third reading in the Senate with a voice vote on January 31, 2018, and received royal assent on February 7, 2018.

Beneath thy shining skies May stalwart sons, and gentle maidens rise, To keep thee steadfast through the years From East to Western sea.

Ruler supreme, who hearest humble prayer, Hold our Dominion within thy loving care; Help us to find, O God, in thee A lasting, rich reward, As waiting for the better Day, We ever stand on guard.

Sous l'œil de Dieu, près du fleuve géant, Le Canadien grandit en espérant.

Toujours guidé par sa lumière, 𝄆 Il gardera l'honneur de son drapeau.

Enemy of tyranny But full of loyalty, He wants to keep in harmony, His proud freedom; And by the effort of his genius, 𝄆 Set on our ground the truth.

Singers at such public events often mix the English and French lyrics to represent Canada's linguistic duality.

[41] Other linguistic variations have also been performed: During the opening ceremonies of the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, "O Canada" was sung in the southern Tutchone language by Yukon native Daniel Tlen.

[44] Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, the National Basketball Association, and the NHL all require venues to perform both the Canadian and American national anthems at games that involve teams from both countries (including all-star games), with the away team's anthem being performed first, followed by the host country.

[45] The NHL's Buffalo Sabres play both anthems before every home game, regardless of the opponent, in recognition of the team's significant Canadian fanbase.

[46] Major League Baseball teams have played the song at games involving the Toronto Blue Jays and the former Montreal Expos,[47] and National Basketball Association teams do so for games involving the Toronto Raptors, and previously, the Vancouver Grizzlies.

In addition, in recognition of their Canadian fanbase, the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League plays "O Canada" before "The Star-Spangled Banner" at their home games, despite there being no Canadian-based NFL team.

[50] Presently, provincial regulations and policies in Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Prince Edward Island mandate the national anthem to be played daily in public elementary and secondary schools.

Titled "A Song for Mary" or simply "The Ateneo de Manila Graduation Hymn", the lyrics were written by James B. Reuter, SJ, and the original tune adapted by Col. José Manela Campaña, bandmaster of the defunct Philippine Constabulary Band.