Car ton bras sait porter l'épée!
Growing up in Toronto, my parents put me in French Immersion, with the best of intentions, thinking this would give me an edge in life. For me, it was a daily academic nightmare, and resultantly, forged a poor intellectual self-image in my formative years.... but that's not where I was going with this
Every morning at 9:00am we would have to sing the Canadian National Anthem ...in French. To child who was only seven or eight, it was strange ordeal. I learned every word by heart - phonetically. For some reason, it had never occurred to the Immersion program directors, to actually teach the meaning of the words that I had to sing every morning for the first nine years of my formal education.
35 years later, looking up the the direct translation of the French vs English version of our anthem, was both a familiar experience - as well as a revelation. The divisive meanings of each, speak volumes about the cultural values of our forefathers, and the differences that divided us:
Official English
Official French
Direct-translation from French to 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.
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.
O Canada!
Land of our forefathers,
Thy brow is wreathed with glorious garlands of flowers.
As is thy arm ready to wield the sword,
So also is it ready to carry the cross.
Thy history is an epic
Of the most brilliant exploits.
Thy valour steeped in faith
Will protect our homes and our rights.
Will protect our homes and our rights.
The English version speaks of national pride, and defending our [largely empty] nation. The French version speaks more to Catholicism - of defending the faith [carrying the cross & wielding the sword], and references non-specific 'epic' historic deeds.
The last two repeated lines, the English version implies that the citizens will protect the nation, whereas the french version implies the nation will protect the citizens.
Both versions speak of glory, valour, and unquestioning nationalism. While these themes are typical to national anthems, they conceptually founded in the ideals of the late 19th century.