Most countries with more than one official language simply translate the words of their national anthem so that everyone is at least singing the same song. But in Canada, there are two songs called O Canada and they have absolutely nothing in common. The original French song was written as a pro-Quebec nationalist song but the tune was co-opted by English Canada and turned into a pro-Canadian song. With the help of music critic Robert Harris, author of Song of a Nation: The Untold Story of Canada's National Anthem, this episode looks at the origins and history of a song that was almost lost to history

Support the Show.