Ode To ACS 'Plagiarised' School Anthem

This one scandal.

I read the comments of the previous entry about a song that shares a similar melody with another, and started researching on another example that I knew about, the school song of Anglo Chinese School that has the melody of one of Canada's unofficial national anthems, The Maple Leaf Forever. I spent six years in ACS but never bothered to check up on this, and what I found was quite... interesting.

Now, everyone who has a copy of the Student's Handbook would know that the ACS school song is to be 'sung to the tune of The Maple Leaf'. What isn't mentioned is that the lyrics seem to be also plagiarised somewhat from the Canadian song as well (at least the first stanza)!

ACS School Anthem
In days of yore from western shores
Oldham dauntless hero came
And planted a Beacon of Truth and Light
In this island of the Main.
Here may it stand from year to year
Emblem of grand endeavour
The regions round echo the sound
Of A.C.S. forever.

*Sing A.C.S. forever more,
our A.C.S. forever.
God save our land and heaven bless
our A.C.S. forever.

Our students hail from China's plains
and the Land of Rising Sun.
We have many sons from India's strand
and the islands of the Main.
Our hearts our hopes our aims are one.
No discord e'er will sever.
We'll stand together for the cause
of A.C.S. forever.
~Henry Martyn Hoisington

The Maple Leaf Forever
In days of yore, from Britain's shore,
Wolfe, the dauntless hero came,
And planted firm Britannia's flag,
On Canada's fair domain.
Here may it wave, our boast, our pride,
And joined in love together,
The thistle, shamrock, rose entwine,
The Maple Leaf forever!

*The Maple Leaf, our emblem dear,
The Maple Leaf forever!
God save our King, and Heaven bless,
The Maple Leaf forever!

At Queenston Heights and Lundy's Lane,
Our brave fathers, side by side,
For freedom, homes, and loved ones dear,
Firmly stood and nobly died;
And those dear rights which they maintained,
We swear to yield them never!
Our watchword evermore shall be,
The Maple Leaf forever!
~Alexander Muir

Click here to download the Canadian version by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir (available for the next 7 days.) I guess maybe this was acceptable in the old days. Nowadays, get marks deducted for the essay if do things like changing some of the words and submitting it. Nonetheless, I think Hoisington (God bless his soul) did a good job 'sampling' the original (and it probably sounds even better). I suspect most ACS students like our school song more than our country's national anthem LOL.

Anyway, I also found this school website that says ACS stands for 'Academic achievements, Christian Character, and Sportsmanship and Service beyond self.' And all these years I'd thought that ACS stands for All Can Swim and Area Cleaning Specialist. I learn something new everyday...