Hi Joe
This is the text from The Penguin Book of Folk songs, edited By Edith Fowke
It also appears in 'Canadian song and story, edited by Edith Fowke, Alan Mills, Helmut Bloom (pub W.J. Cage Toronto (no date)
I have included both sets of notes as there are differences.
Jim Carroll

UN CANADIEN ERRANT (from Fowke)

Un canadien errant Banni de ses foyers, Un canadien errant Banni de ses foyers, Parcourait en pleurant Des pays étrangers, Parcourait en pleurant Des pays étrangers. Un jour, triste et pensif, Assis au bord des flots, Au courant fugitif Il adressa ces mots : Si tu vois mon pays, Mon pays malheureux, Va, dis à mes amis Que je me souviens d'eux. Ô jours si pleins d'appas Vous êtes disparus . . . Et ma patrie, hélas Je ne la verrai plus Non, mais en expirant, Ô mon cher Canada ! Mon regard languissant Vers toi se portera.

English words by Edith Fowke Once a Canadian lad, Exiled from hearth and home, Wandered, alone and sad, Through alien lands unknown. Down by a rushing stream, Thoughtful and sad one day, He watched the water pass And to it he did say: If you should reach my land, My most unhappy land, Please speak to all my friends So they will understand. Tell them how much I wish That I could be once more In my beloved land That I will see no more. 'My own beloved land I'll not forget till death, And I will speak of her With my last dying breath. My own beloved land I'll not forget till death, And I will speak of her With my last dying breath.'

Notes from the Penguin Book of Canadian Songs (Ed Edith Fowke 1973)
Although the rebellion of 1837-8 was easily suppressed, the continuing border raids by American sympathizers angered the Tories and provoked harsh treatment of the rebels. Nearly a thousand were imprisoned, scores were transported to Van Diemen's Land, and many of the leaders were hanged. Those who escaped capture had to leave their homes and take refuge in the United States. Their plight inspired a young student, M. A. Gérin-Lajoie, to write Un Canadien errant, setting it to the tune of a popular French folk song, Si tu te mets anguille. Soon after the song appeared in 1842, French- Canadians were singing it from Acadia on the east coast to the distant reaches of the Northwest Territories.

Notes from Canada's Story in Song Edith Fowke, Alan Mills, Helmut Bloom (pub W.J. Cage Toronto (no date)
Although the governments had quickly crushed the rebellions in both Upper and Lower Canada, the continuing border raids fanned Tory anger and provoked harsh treatment of the captured rebels. Between December 1837 and the end of 1838 nearly a thousand people were imprisoned on charges of insurrection and treason in Upper Canada alone, and in each region some of the leaders were executed. The most notable victims were Samuel Lount and Peter Matthews, who were hanged in Toronto, although a petition signed by eight thousand people asked for their reprieve. Scores of captured rebels were transported half way around the world to the penal colony of Van Dieman's Land, and many others were banished for life.
Those who were not captured had to flee from their homes to escape punishment. Many who found refuge in the United States longed to return to their families, but it was not safe for them to come back for many years. Among the refugees was Louis- Joseph Papineau, who later went to France, where he stayed until he was pardoned. It was not until 1849 that a general amnesty was granted and all the exiles were allowed to return.
These unhappy events inspired a young student, M. A. Gérin-Lajoie, to write this song, setting it to the tune of a familiar French folk song, "Si tu te mets anguille." It describes the feelings of one young French-Canadian exile as he wanders by the bank of a river that flows toward Canada and asks the stream to carry his sad greetings to his friends at home. Soon after the song appeared in 1842, it was being sung by French Canadians from Nova Scotia to the Northwest Territories, and it has continued popular to the present day.