Land of the Silver Birch

Like most traditional songs the lyrics vary slightly. The following are representative: verse 1: :Land of the silver birchHome of the beaverWhere still the mighty mooseWanders at will :Refrain:Blue lake and rocky shoreI will return once moreboomdidi boom boom – boomdidi boom boom – boomdidi boom boom boom :High on a rocky ledge I'll build my wigwam (Alternate version: There where the blue lake lies, I'll set my wigwam)Close to the water's edgeSilent and still :Refrain :My heart grows sick for theeHere in the low landsI will return to theeHills of the north :Refrain It is related to a similar song "My Paddle's Keen and Bright" (), written by Margaret Embers McGee (1889–1975) in 1918, which is used to keep time paddling and is frequently intermingled: :My paddle's keen and brightFlashing with silverFollow the wild goose flight (other known colloquial versions of this line exist, including: Follow the pale moonlight, and Follow the waters light.)Dip, dip and swing :Dip, dip and swing her backFlashing with silverSwift as the wild goose fliesDip, dip and swing ==Alternative lyrics==

The lyrics of this song often vary by region. Some possible variations and additional verses: :Deep in the forestDown in the lowlandsMy heart cries out for theeHills of the North :Swift as a silver fishCanoe of birch barkThy mighty waterwaysCarry me forth :Though I am forced to fleeFar from my homelandI will return to theeHills of the North :High as an eagle soarsOver the mountainsMy spirit rises upFree as a bird A French version, "Terre du bouleau blanc", was distributed by Orff Canada. In 1979 the Canadian Cultural Workers' Committee, a musical group associated with the Communist Party of Canada (Marxist-Leninist), released a song on their album 'The Party is the Most Precious Thing' titled 'Death to the Traitors' which takes its melody from "Land of the Silver Birch" but with new communist lyrics about destroying imperialism and capitalism in Canada and uniting the Canadian working class. =="Silver Birch" in the Scouts and Guiding movement==

Since the 1930s, the song has been popular with Scouts and Girl Guides. Its origin is unclear. It is sung regularly at Canadian Scout and Guide camps, including Doe Lake, Camp Maple Leaf, Camp Wenonah (co-educational camp) and Camp Peaceful Waters in Quebec's lower Laurentians. The song is also sometimes sung at Boy Scout Camps in the United States, though sometimes "eagle" is sung in place of "beaver". Another variation is sung at the opening and closing campfires at Ma-Ka-Ja-Wan Scout Reservation in Pearson, Wisconsin. Cuyuna Scout Camp of Crosslake, Minnesota uses this song as one of the three it uses to close its Sunday and Friday night campfire programs, as does Camp Babcock-Hovey in Ovid, New York. The translated Italian version "Terra di Betulla" is likely frequent campfire song for Italian scouts. The Dutch version “Land van de Zilverberk” is sung in Dutch scouts groups. It is likely this version travelled to the Netherlands through different scout Jamborees. ==Other uses==

In the 2019 film Brotherhood, directed by Richard Bell is based on a true story of a 1926 canoeing accident in an Ontario, Canada lake at a boys' summer camp. Ten boys and a camp counsellor died, when their 30-foot canoe capsized. The boys' hearty rendition of Land of the Silver Birch as the canoe trip began, is replayed throughout the film in subdued tones, reflecting the survivors' struggle to stay alive in the dark, frigid waters. ==See also==