Ode to Labrador

Ode to Labrador is the regional anthem of Labrador, a constituent region of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

Ode to Labrador
Regional anthem of Labrador
LyricsHarry Paddon, 1927
MusicErnst Anschütz, 1824
Adopted1927
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History

Written by Dr. Harry Paddon in 1927,[1] it is generally sung to the melody of O Tannenbaum, although alternate melodies have been proposed.[2] The Ode constitutes "the first major, symbolic declaration of Labradorean solidarity".[3]

Sent to serve the remote reaches of Labrador by the London board of health, Paddon eventually switched allegiances to his fellow Labradorean countrymen and women, and sought to aid in their political mobilisation with the Ode. The symbolic significance of the Ode is further bolstered by the fact that Labrador's definitive boundaries were only determined that very same year.

Labrador's motto, munus splendidum mox explebitur, comes from a line in the song ("their splendid task will soon fulfil').

Lyrics
Lyrics

Dear land of mountains, woods and snow,
Labrador, our Labrador.
God's noble gift to us below,
Labrador, our Labrador.
Thy proud resources waiting still,
Their splendid task will soon fulfil,
Obedient to thy Maker's will,
Labrador, our Labrador.

Thy stately forests soon shall ring,
Labrador, our Labrador.
Responsive to the woodsman's swing,
Labrador, our Labrador.
And mighty floods that long remained,
Their raging fury unrestrained,
Shall serve the purpose God ordained,
Labrador, our Labrador.

We love to climb thy mountains steep,
Labrador, our Labrador.
And paddle on thy waters deep,
Labrador, our Labrador.
Our snowshoes scar thy trackless plains,
We seek no city streets nor lanes,
We are thy sons while life remains,
Labrador, our Labrador.

See also

References
  1. "Ode to Labrador : Labrador Heritage Society". www.labradorheritagemuseum.ca. Retrieved 2019-02-07.
  2. "Ode to Labrador". www.cs.cmu.edu. Retrieved 2019-02-07.
  3. Mills, Morgon (2017-08-22). "Public Discourses and the Intellectual Origins of Labrador Nationalism". Mapping Politics. 8 (3). ISSN 1920-5473.
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