It’s been 40 years since the familiar Ode to Newfoundland was officially recognized as the province’s anthem, even though it has been sung and performed for well over 100 years.

The Rooms archivist Larry Dohey says the Ode was written in January of 1902 by Sir Cavendish Boyle, then-Governor of Newfoundland.

He says it was originally set to the music of German bandmaster, E.R. Krippner. The music was later changed to a score by Sir Hubert Parry.

In 1902, the piece was recognized as the colonial anthem by the committee of council but it had to be signed off by the Governor himself to be officially recognized.

But, Sir Boyle didn’t believe it would be proper for him to sign off on a song that he had written himself, so he refused to formally approve the anthem, says Dohey.

By 1904 the Ode had been unoffically accepted by the people, but it was not given Royal Assent to legislation until August 17, 1979.

Find out more about the Ode to Newfoundland’s anniversary on Archival Moments.

The Ode to Newfoundland

When sun rays crown thy pine clad hills,
And summer spreads her hand,
When silvern voices tune thy rills,
We love thee, smiling land.

We love thee, we love thee,
We love thee, smiling land.

When spreads thy cloak of shimmering white
at winter’s stern command
Through shortened days and
starlit nights we love thee frozen land

We love thee, we love thee,
we love thee frozen land.

When blinding storm gusts fret thy shores
and wild waves wash their strands,
Through spindrift swirls and tempest roars
we love thee windswept land,

We love thee, we love thee,
we love thee windswept land.

As loved our fathers, so we love,
Where once they stood, we stand;
Their prayer we raise to Heaven above,
God guard thee, Newfoundland

God guard thee, God guard thee,
God guard thee, Newfoundland.