When our fathers crossed the ocean
In the glorious days gone by,
They breathed their deep emotion
In many a tear and sigh--
Tho' a brighter lay before them
Than the old, old land that bore them
And all the wide world knows now
That land was Canada.
So line up and try us,
Whoever would deny us
The freedom of our birthright
And they 'll find us like a wall--
For we are Canadian--Canadian forever,
Canadian forever--Canadian over all.
Our fathers came to win us
This land beyond recall--
And the same blood flows within us
Of Briton, Celt, and Gaul--
Keep alive each glowing ember
Of our sireland, but remember
Our country is Canadian
Whatever may befall.
So line up and try us,
Whoever would deny us
The freedom of our birthright
And they 'll find us like a wall--
For we are Canadian, Canadian forever,
Canadian forever---Canadian over all.
Who can blame them, who can blame us
If we tell ourselves with pride
How a thousand years to tame us
The foe has often tried--
And should e'er the Empire need us,
She'll require no chains to lead us,
For we are Empire's children--
But Canadian over all.
Then line up and try us,
Whoever would deny us
The freedom of our birthright
And they 'll find us like a wall--
For we are Canadian, Canadian forever,
Canadian forever--Canadian over all!
[Illustration: Border]