‘This Is Not America’: N.S. musician captures Canadian pride in new song

Robert Cribb discusses his song “This is not America.”

A Nova Scotia musician has released a new anthem celebrating Canada’s identity and independence.

Robert Cribb — a musician, songwriter, and journalist — has released “This Is Not America,” a song he originally wrote in the 1990s but reworked in the face of renewed conversations about Canadian sovereignty.

Cribb says the song was first inspired by tensions surrounding NAFTA and his own homesickness during months of travel abroad.

“I remember feeling this overwhelming pride and longing to get back to Canada,” he said.

Now, decades later, he says renewed political tensions inspired him to revisit the track.

“‘This Is Not America,’ you can tell by the title, of course, attempts to be a stirring kind of anthemic song that declares Canada’s sovereignty and pride and patriotism in the face of what is existential threat,” said Cribb

The new version of the song also features vocals from his daughter, Ally Cribb, a nationally recognized singer-songwriter. Rob Cribb called the opportunity to collaborate with her on the project “amazing,” and said it was a chance to capture a historic moment together.

Released just days before Monday’s federal election, Cribb says the timing was deliberate.

“What is new and what is electrifying this moment and creating a remarkable voter turnout and remarkable engagement from Canadians in a federal election — it’s obviously this,” he said, referring to the sovereignty debate that has been in headlines over recent weeks.

At its core, Cribb says “This Is Not America” is about pride in Canada’s distinct national identity.

“We feel a deep and lingering and passionate love for this country, for everything that it represents. It is unique. It is different. We have a special meaning, and that has to trump all else,” he said.

“This Is Not America” is now available on major streaming platforms and YouTube.