Editing The Maple Leaf Forever

{{Short description|Canadian patriotic song}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2018}}
{{Infobox anthem
|title         = The Maple Leaf Forever
|alt_title     =
|image         = Maple Leaf Forever.jpg
|caption       =
|prefix        = Former national
|country       = Canada
|composer      =
|music_date    =
|author        = [[Alexander Muir]]
|sound         = The Maple Leaf Forever.ogg
|sound_title   = The Maple Leaf Forever
}}

"'''The Maple Leaf Forever'''" is a Canadian patriotic song written by [[Alexander Muir]] (1830–1906) in 1867, the year of [[Canada]]'s [[Canadian Confederation|Confederation]].<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Muir, Alexander |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Music in Canada |url=http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/alexander-muir-emc/}}</ref> He wrote the work after serving with the [[Queen's Own Rifles of Toronto]] in the [[Battle of Ridgeway]] against the [[Fenians]] in 1866.

==History==
{{listen|type=music
 | filename     = Maple Leaf Forever.flac
 | title        = Edward Johnson (1928)
 | description  = Tenor [[Edward Johnson (tenor)|Edward Johnson]] singing "The Maple Leaf Forever"
}}
Muir was said to have been inspired to write this song by a large [[maple]] tree which stood on his street in front of [[Maple Leaf Forever Park#Maple Cottage|Maple Cottage]], a house at Memory Lane and Laing Street in [[Toronto]]. The song became quite popular in [[English Canada]] and for many years served as an unofficial [[national anthem]].<ref name="Ref1">{{cite web |url=https://www.utoronto.ca/icm/0101b.html |title=Maple Cottage, Leslieville, Toronto |work=Institute for Canadian Music |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090331095214/http://www.utoronto.ca/icm/0101b.html |archive-date=March 31, 2009 |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>[[Library and Archives Canada|LAC]]. "[http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/confederation/index-e.html Canadian Confederation]" the Web site of ''Library and Archives Canada'', January 9, 2006 ({{ISSN|1713-868X}}) includes a [http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/confederation/023001-2930-e.html bibliography] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090228220252/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/confederation/023001-2930-e.html |date=February 28, 2009 }}</ref> Because of its strongly [[Britishness|British perspective]] it became unpopular amongst [[French Canadians]], and this prevented it from ever becoming an official state anthem, even though it was seriously considered for that role and was even used as a ''[[de facto]]'' state anthem in many instances.<ref name="CAML" >''Canadian Musical works 1800–1980 a bibliography of general and analytical sources''. Ottawa : Canadian Association of Music Libraries, 1983. ({{ISBN|978-0-9690583-2-8}})</ref>

The tree which inspired Muir's song fell during a windstorm on the night of July 19–20, 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/07/20/tree-said-to-have-inspired-song-the-maple-leaf-forever-falls-victim-to-toronto-storm/|title=Tree said to have inspired song 'The Maple Leaf Forever' falls victim to Toronto storm|last1=News|last2=Canada|date=July 20, 2013|access-date=June 26, 2017}}</ref> Wood from the tree was used to make objects that will preserve its importance to Canadian culture, including the speaker's podium for [[Toronto City Council]], and the [[Maple Leaf Forever Guitars]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Rider|first1=David|title=Guitar made from "Maple Leaf Forever" tree displayed at Toronto city hall|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2015/09/18/guitar-made-from-maple-leaf-forever-tree-displayed-at-toronto-city-hall.html}}</ref> Residents have expressed their hope that the city will be able to start a new tree from one of the branches.

During the early 1870s, Alexander Muir was an elementary school teacher in [[Newmarket, Ontario|Newmarket]], north of Toronto.

It has been asserted that Muir's words, however, while certainly pro-British, were not anti-French, and he revised the lyrics of the first verse from "Here may it wave, our boast, our pride, and join in love together / The Thistle, Shamrock, Rose entwine" to "/ The Lily, [[Thistle]], [[Shamrock]], [[Rose]], the Maple Leaf forever"{{snd}} the thistle represented [[Scotland]]; the shamrock, [[Ireland]]; and the rose, England{{snd}} adding "[[Fleur-de-lis|Lily]]", a [[France|French symbol]], to the list. Muir was attempting to express that under the Union Flag, the British and French were united as Canadians.<ref name="Ref1" />

"The Maple Leaf Forever" is also the authorized regimental march of [[The Royal Westminster Regiment]].<ref name="CAML" /> Additionally, it is the Regimental Slow March of the [[Fort Henry Guard]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/his/ol-lo/vol-tom-3/par2/rwr-01-eng.asp|title=Volume 3, Part 2: Infantry Regiments - THE ROYAL WESTMINSTER REGIMENT|first=Government of Canada, National Defence, Chief Military|last=Personnel|website=www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca|access-date=February 3, 2018|archive-date=June 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170613081451/http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/his/ol-lo/vol-tom-3/par2/rwr-01-eng.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The song makes reference to [[James Wolfe]] [[Battle of Quebec (1759)|capturing Quebec]] in 1759 during the [[Great Britain in the Seven Years' War|Seven Years' War]] and the [[Battle of Queenston Heights]] and [[Battle of Lundy's Lane]] during the [[War of 1812]].

== Lyrics ==
<poem>
In days of yore, from Britain's shore,
[[James Wolfe|Wolfe]], the dauntless hero, came
And planted firm [[Union Flag|Britannia's flag]]
On Canada's fair domain.
Here may it wave, our boast, our pride
And, joined in love together,
The [[Thistle#Scottish thistle|thistle]], [[Shamrock#Symbol of Ireland|shamrock]], [[Tudor rose|rose]] entwine (Also sung: The lily, thistle, shamrock, rose)
The Maple Leaf forever!

''Chorus''
   The Maple Leaf, our emblem dear,
   The Maple Leaf forever!
   God save our [[Monarchy of Canada|King]] and [[Heaven]] bless
   The Maple Leaf forever!

At [[Battle of Queenston Heights|Queenston Heights]] and [[Battle of Lundy's Lane|Lundy's Lane]],
Our brave fathers, side by side,
For freedom, homes and loved ones dear,
Firmly stood and nobly died;
And those dear rights which they maintained,
We swear to yield them never!
Our watchword evermore shall be
"The Maple Leaf forever!"

''Chorus''

Our fair Dominion now extends
From [[Cape Race]] to [[Nootka Sound]];
May peace forever be our lot,
And plenteous store abound:
And may those ties of love be ours
Which discord cannot sever,
And flourish green o'er freedom's home
The Maple Leaf forever!

''Chorus''

On merry England's far famed land
May kind heaven sweetly smile,
God bless old Scotland evermore
and Ireland's [[Ireland#Geography|Em'rald Isle]]!
And swell the song both loud and long
Till rocks and forest quiver!
God save our King and Heaven bless
The Maple Leaf forever!

''Chorus''
</poem>

===Alternative lyrics===

[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|CBC]] Radio's ''[[Metro Morning]]'' show in [[Toronto]] ran a contest to find new lyrics for the song in 1997. The contest was won by Romanian immigrant, mathematician, and now a songwriter, actor and poet, Vladimir Radian, who came to Canada in the 1980s. This version received its first full orchestral treatment on June 27, 1997, at a concert by the [[Toronto Symphony Orchestra]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/neighbourhood-grows-trees-from-the-seeds-of-canadas-history|title=Neighbourhood grows trees from the seeds of Canada's history (with video)|date=November 2, 2014|access-date=June 26, 2017}}</ref>

The new version removed all references to British-Canadian heritage, but added a special reference to Quebec's provincial symbol, the [[fleur-de-lis]].

Padre G. E. Benton, a former Canadian army chaplain, also wrote a revised version.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.piddingworth.com/maple_leaf_forever_new.html |title=Maple_leaf_forever_new |access-date=June 17, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002143417/http://www.piddingworth.com/maple_leaf_forever_new.html |archive-date=October 2, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

The Canadian vocal harmony trio "[[Finest Kind]]" (Ian Robb, Ann Downey and Shelley Posen) recorded "The Maple Leaf Forever" on their 2003 CD "Silks & Spices". This version, with new words co-written by Posen and Robb and harmony arrangement by the trio, was sung at the ceremonial planting in Ottawa of two silver maple seedlings: direct descendants of the tree which is thought to have inspired Alexander Muir to write the original song in 1867. The ceremony occurred on November 2, 2014, and was attended by several local dignitaries and military veterans. The words acknowledge the Aboriginal, French, English and "new Canadian" contributions to the evolution of Canada, and highlight Canada's more recent military role as peacekeepers "where hate and war divide". The second verse also references John McCrae's iconic First World War poem "[[In Flanders Fields]]".

===Maple Leaf Gardens / Winter Olympics===
{{ external media
| width  = 300px
| video1 = [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYlCGQ628gE&t=2h19m10s Video of Michael Bublé singing "Maple Leaf Forever" at the 2010 Winter Olympics closing ceremony.]<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYlCGQ628gE&t=2h19m10s Michael Buble at Closing Ceremony]. ''youtube.com''</ref>}}

During the final game of the [[Toronto Maple Leafs]] at their former home arena, [[Maple Leaf Gardens]] in Toronto, [[Anne Murray]] sang another version (modified from Radian's version) of the ''Maple Leaf Forever''. This version was also used by [[Michael Bublé]] during the [[2010 Winter Olympics closing ceremony]].

==See also==
{{Portal|Music|Canada}}
* [[Canadian patriotic music]]
* [[Music of Canada]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{wikisource-inline}}
* {{Commons category-inline}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090331095214/http://www.utoronto.ca/icm/0101b.html Article on Maple Cottage, Leslieville (Toronto) and "The Maple Leaf Forever"]
* [http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/m2/f7/17304.mp3 The Maple Leaf Forever Johnson, Edward, 1878–1959]

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Maple Leaf Forever}}
[[Category:Canadian military marches]]
[[Category:1867 songs]]
[[Category:Canadian anthems]]
[[Category:Royal anthems]]
[[Category:Historical national anthems]]
[[Category:Songs based on Canadian history]]
[[Category:British-Canadian culture]]
[[Category:Monarchism in Canada]]
[[Category:Canadian Confederation]]
[[Category:Canadian patriotic songs]]