Wrote the French lyrics for O Canada

Born: 8 May 1839 in Saint-Placide, Quebec
Died: 27 June 1920 in Saint-Irenée-les-Bains, Quebec

Adolphe-Basile Routhier was a lawyer and a founding member of the Royal Society of Canada. He became a judge in 1873 and was later Chief Justice of Quebec. Routhier is perhaps best remembered however for his poetry, which he wrote under the name Jean Piquefort.

In 1880, Routhier was asked by the Lieutenant Governor of Quebec to compose a poem to be used as a hymn for the "Congrès national des Canadians-Français". The words were accompanied by music written by Calixa Lavallée and were very well received when they were performed at a banquet in Quebec City.

Adolphe-Basile Routhier retired from the bench in 1906 and died in 1920. Unlike the English version of "O Canada", Routhier's lyrics have never been changed.

French lyrics for "O Canada":

O 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.

English translation of the French lyrics:

O Canada! Land of our forefathers
Thy brow is wreathed with a glorious garland 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.

Original poem by Routhier:

O 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.

Sous l'oeil de Dieu, près du fleuve géant,

Le Canadien grandit en espérant,
Il est né d'une race fière,
Béni fut son berceau;
Le ciel a marqué sa carrière
Dans ce monde nouveau.
Toujours guidé par Sa lumière,
Il gardera l'honneur de son drapeau,
Il gardera l'honneur de son drapeau.

De son patron, précurseur du vrai Dieu,

Il porte au front l'auréole de feu;
Ennemi de la tyrannie,
Mais plein de loyauté,
Il veut garder dans l'harmonie
Sa fière liberté.
Et par l'effort de son génie,
Sur notre Sol asseoir la vérité,
Sur notre Sol asseoir la vérité!

Amour sacré du trône et de l'autel

Remplis nos coeurs de ton souffle immortel.
Parmi les races étrangères
Notre guide est la foi;
Sachons être un peuple de frères,
Sous le joug de la loi;
Et répétons comme nos pères
Le cri vainqueur: "Pour le Christ et le Roi"
Le cri vainqueur: "Pour le Christ et le Roi".

See also:

Calixa Lavallee
Robert Stanley Weir

Sources include:

Kearney, Mark, and Randy Ray. The Great Canadian Trivia Book. Toronto: Hounslow Press, 1996.

Connections:

By Name · R
By Province · Quebec
By Claim to Fame · Music