Something to Sing About
(source: “Jubilee Songbook”, Girl Guides of Canada, 1971; words and music by Oscar Brand.)
I have walked on the sands near the Grand Banks of Newfoundland
Relaxed on the ridge of the Miramichi
Seen the waves tear and roar on the stone coast of Labrador
Watched them roll back to the Great Northern Sea
Chorus:
From the Vancouver Island to the Alberta Highland
‘Cross the Prairies, the lakes to Ontario’s towers
From the sound of Mount Royal’s chimes, up to the Maritimes
Something to sing about, this land of ours
I have welcomed the dawn from the fields of Saskatchewan
Followed the sun to the Vancouver shore
Watched it climb shiny new up the snow peaks of Caribou
Up to the clouds where the wild Rockies soar
I have heard the wild wind sing the places that I have been
Bay Bull and Red Deer and Strait of Bells Isle
Names like Grand Mere and Silverthorne
Moose Jaw and Marrowbone,
Trails of the pioneer, named with a smile
I have wandered my way to the wild wood of Hudson Bay
Treated my toes to Quebec’s morning dew
Where the sweet summer breeze kissed the leaves of the maple trees
Sharing this song that I’m sharing with you
Yes there’s something to sing about, tune up a string about
Call out in chorus or quietly hum
Of a land that is still young, with a ballad that’s still unsung
Telling the promise of great things to come
“Something to Sing About” (actual title: “This Land of Ours“) is one of Canada’s national songs, a patriotic song written by folk singer Oscar Brand that sings the praises of the many different regions of Canada. It has some similarities to “Scotland the Brave”. It was used as a theme for Brand’s television show Let’s Sing Out, which aired on CBC and CTV in the 1960s,
The first line refers to walking on the Grand Banks of Newfoundland, which is generally impossible because the Grand Banks are underwater. Being from Manitoba, the author did not know this when he wrote the words.
Wikipedia