The new, gender-neutral lyrics to O Canada are official.

Officially, the lyrics to "O Canada" only addressed the patriotism of the country's "sons," until this week.


A group of notable Canadian women is launching a campaign for gender-neutral language in the English lyrics of O Canada. Known as “Canada’s national musician”, Calixa Lavallée was asked to compose the music for a poem written by Adolphe-Basile Routhier. It was a long road to change, as the politicians responsible explain to NPR Music. Canada or O Canada! “O Canada” has been the country’s national anthem since 1980, and a dozen attempts have been made to change the “all thy sons” lyrics, according to CBC News. Bélanger’s Bill C-624 seeks to change the lyrics of “O Canada” from “In all thy sons command” to “In all of us command,” to make the anthem gender neutral. The House of Commons is one step closer to adopting a dying Liberal MP's private member's bill to render the words to 'O Canada' more gender-neutral. The Canadian national anthem is a historical artifact. READ MORE: ‘O Canada’ lyric change sparks debate, but the anthem was originally gender neutral Full history of “O Canada” Some think of Calixa Lavallée as an obscure music teacher who improvised a patriotic song in a moment of inspiration, but the truth is quite different. O Canada: parliament votes to make national anthem lyrics gender neutral This article is more than 3 years old English words to change from ‘in all thy sons command’ to ‘in all of us …’ This kind of proposal will definitely promote Bélanger as a champion for women, but the proposed change misses the point of the song. and the written lyrics are variously dotted with exclamation marks.)