Michael Bublé - The Maple Leaf Forever

Quiz by Sharon Michiko Yoneda

artist:  Michael Bublé

songwriter: Alexander Muir, a veteran of the Battle of Ridgeway, in 1867

date released: 2010, by Michael Bublé

"The Maple Leaf Forever" is a Canadian patriotic song written by Alexander Muir (1830–1906) in 1867, the year of Canada's Confederation. He wrote the work after serving with the Queen's Own Rifles of Toronto in the Battle of Ridgeway against the Fenians in 1866.

Muir was inspired to write this song by a large maple tree which stood on his street in Toronto. The song became quite popular in English Canada and for many years served as an unofficial national anthem. Because of its strongly British perspective it became unpopular amongst French Canadians, and this prevented it from ever becoming an official state anthem, even though it was seriously considered for that role and was even used as a de facto state anthem on occasion.

The tree which inspired Muir's song fell during a windstorm on the night of July 19–20, 2013. Wood from the tree was used to make objects that will preserve its importance to Canadian culture, including the speaker's podium for Toronto City Council, and the Maple Leaf Forever Guitars. Residents have expressed their hope that the city will be able to start a new tree from one of the branches.

Although Muir's words were certainly pro-British, they were not anti-French, and he revised the lyrics into its current rendition.