Land of the Silver Birch

Land of the Silver Birch is a traditional Canadian folk song. It is sometimes sung to keep time while canoeing, and sometimes sung at campfires in a round. It is in Aeolian, or Natural Minor, but some have performed it with a raised fourth in the forest, creating a dorian feel.

Its subject matter is a romanticized vision of nature and the land from the perspective of an indigenous person, but it remains popular with the non-Aboriginal majority in Canada.

The song appears in the Paul Gross film Men With Brooms (2002).

In 2005, the song was partly re-written by Canadian folk singer Dickson Reid and released on his debut album, "Sugar in the Snow".

Lyrics

Like most traditional songs the lyrics vary slightly. The following are representative:

Land of the silver birch
Home of the beaver
Where still the mighty moose
Wanders at will

Refrain:
Blue lake and rocky shore
I will return once more
Boom diddy-ah da, boom diddy-ah da, boom diddy-ah da, ehaaa

High on a rocky ledge
I'll build my wigwam
Close to the water's edge
Silent and still

Refrain

My heart grows sick for thee
Here in the low lands
I will return to thee
Hills of the north

Refrain

It is related to a similar song "My Paddle's Keen and Bright", written by Margaret Embers McGee in 1918, which is used to keep time paddling and is frequently intermingled:

My paddle's keen and bright
Flashing with silver
Follow the wild goose flight
Dip, dip and swing

Dip, dip and swing her back
Flashing with silver
Swift as the wild goose flies
Dip, dip and swing

Alternative Lyrics

The lyrics of this song can be quite different depending on who you talk to and what region of Canada they are from. Some possible variations and additional verses:

Down in the forest
Deep in the lowlands
My heart cries out for thee
Hills of the North

High as an eagle soars
Over the mountains
My spirit rises up
Free as a bird

Land of the chicken pox
Home of the measles
Where still the mighty flu
Wanders at will

Blue faced with swollen Tongue
That is how this song is sung
Boom diddy boom boom, bomm diddy boom boom, boom diddy boom boom boo-om

Silver Birch in the Scouts and Guiding Movement

Since the 1930's, the song has been popular with Boy Scouts and Girl Guides. Its origin is unclear. It is sung regularly at Canadian Scout and Girl Guide Camps, including Doe Lake, Camp Maple Leaf, and Camp Wenonah.