O Canada -- originally called Chant national -- was written with French lyrics in Quebec City in 1880. The French lyrics remain unaltered from the original, but many changes to the English lyrics have been proposed over the years.
Original English Lyrics to “O Canada” by Robert Stanley Weir, 1908
O Canada! Our home and native land!
True patriot love thou dost in us command.
We see thee rising fair, dear land, The True North, strong and free;
And stand on guard, O Canada, We stand on guard for thee.
O Canada! O Canada! O Canada!
We stand on guard for thee.
O Canada! We stand on guard for thee.
Official Version (Adopted 1980)
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.
Richardson Version (1906)
O Canada! Our fathers' land of old
Thy brow is crown'd with leaves of red and gold.
Beneath the shade of the Holy Cross
Thy children own their birth
No stains thy glorious annals gloss
Since valour shield thy hearth.
Almighty God! On thee we call
Defend our rights, forfend this nation's thrall,
Defend our rights, forfend this nation's thrall.
Buchan Version (1908)
O Canada, our heritage, our love
Thy worth we praise all other lands above.
From sea to see throughout their length
From Pole to borderland,
At Britain's side, whate'er betide
Unflinchingly we'll stand
With hearts we sing, ‘God save the King.’
Guide then one
Empire wide, do we implore,
And prosper Canada from shore to shore.
McCulloch Version (1909)
O Canada! In praise of thee we sing;
From echoing hills our anthems proudly ring.
With fertile plains and mountains grand
With lakes and rivers clear,
Eternal beauty, thos dost stand
Throughout the changing year.
Lord God of Hosts! We now implore
Bless our dear land this day and evermore,
Bless our dear land this day and evermore.
-Source: The Canadian Encyclopedia