Ode to Labrador


Ode to Labrador is the regional anthem of Labrador.

History

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

Lyrics