To Young Canadians
To Young Canadians – James Wright / Jack Layton
Music videos:
Jack Layton, Burnaby, B.C., 30 April 2011 (photo courtesy of Stephen Hui)
On September 29, 2012, the Honorable Olivia Chow was presented with an Ottawa Peace Award, posthumously, for Jack Layton, her late husband. “To Young Canadians” was written for the occasion at the request of the Leading Note Foundation, as a tribute to Layton, whose message it aims to spread through the universal language of music. Its text is a lyrical adaptation of excerpts from the “Letter to Canadians” that Layton penned two days prior to this death on August 22, 2011. This piece is dedicated in memory of the life and legacy of Jack Layton, and to The Leading Note Foundation’s Orkidstra program. The MP3 of this recording can be heard free of charge by clicking here (note that the MP3 file may take 30-45 seconds to download). To download the MP3 file itself, simply wait for the link to open, then right-click anywhere, and select “Save As”.
The score can be viewed here (sample copy only: SATB, with soloist). SSA and SAB scores are also available from Cypress Music.
To order the score, please visit the following websites:
https://cypresschoral.com/composers/james-wright/ (including string parts)
French-language Radio-Canada interview (note that the MP4 file may take 30-45 seconds to download):
CBC Radio-Canada TV interview – James Wright & Jenna Glatt (22 August 2013)
Print interviews:
http://www.carleton.ca/fass/2013/video-james-wrights-young-canadians/
http://newsroom.carleton.ca/2012/09/26/carletons-james-wright-composes-a-piece-for-event-commemorating-jack-layton/
Lyrics – Adapted from Jack Layton’s “Letter to Canadians” (22 August 2011)
TO YOUNG CANADIANS
(English version)
(see below for optional bilingual version, with French-language verses and refrains)
Tens of thousands of Canadians
Have written me to wish me well.
Your spirit and your love have lit up my home,
And hardened my determination to leave you with this message:
Love is better than anger, hope is better than fear,
So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic and we’ll change
the world.
I believe in the power to change things, I believe in the power of youth.
I believe in your dreams for Canada, ray of hope shining strong and true.
I believe in the power to change things, I believe in the power of youth.
Canada, O Canada, I believe in you!
My friends, know that love is better than anger, hope is better than fear,
So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic and we’ll change
the world.
I believe in your youthful vision, passion, energy, bonds that bind.
I believe you will meet each challenge with every fibre of heart and mind.
I believe in your youthful vision, generosity, justice true.
Canada, O Canada, I believe in you!
My friends, know that love is better than anger, hope is better than fear,
So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic and we’ll change the world.
We can change the world!
TO YOUNG CANADIANS
(version bilingue / bilingual version)
Tens of thousands of Canadians
Have written me to wish me well.
Your spirit and your love have lit up my home,
And hardened my determination to leave you with this message:
Love is better than anger, hope is better than fear,
So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic and we’ll change
the world.
I believe in the power to change things, I believe in the power of youth.
I believe in your dreams for Canada, ray of hope shining strong and true.
I believe in the power to change things, I believe in the power of youth.
Canada, O Canada, I believe in you!
My friends, know that love is better than anger, hope is better than fear,
So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic and we’ll change
the world.
Je crois dans le pouvoir de changer, et je crois au forces de l’esprit.
Je crois en tous vos rêves pour le Canada, dans cette lueur d’espoir qui brille.
I believe in your youthful vision, generosity, justice true.
O Canada, O Canada, I believe in you!
L’amour est cent fois meilleur que la haine, l’espoir, meilleur que la peur,
Alors esperons, aimons, restons optimiste et nous changerons
le monde.
We can change the world!