Music in History—Anchors Aweigh

"Anchors Aweigh" is the song of the United States Navy, composed in 1906 by Charles A. Zimmerman with lyrics by Alfred Hart Miles. Zimmerman was at the time a Lieutenant, and had been bandmaster of the United States Naval Academy Band since 1887. Miles was a Midshipman First Class at the Academy, in the class of 1907, and asked Zimmerman to assist him in composing a song for that class, to be used as a football march. The original lyrics, in two verses by Miles, were:

Stand Navy down the field, sails set to the sky.
We'll never change our course, so Army you steer shy-y-y-y.
Roll up the score, Navy, Anchors Aweigh.
Sail Navy down the field and sink the Army, sink the Army Grey.
Get underway, Navy, Decks cleared for the fray,
We'll hoist true Navy Blue So Army down your Grey-y-y-y.
Full speed ahead, Navy; Army heave to,
Furl Black and Grey and Gold and hoist the Navy, hoist the Navy Blue

The song was first played during the Army-Navy football game on December 1, 1906, at Franklin Field in Philadelphia. Before a crowd in excess of 30,000 Navy won the game 10-0, their first win in the matchup since 1900.

Another Academy Midshipman, Royal Lovell (class of 1926) later wrote what would be adopted into the song as its third verse:

Blue of the Seven Seas; Gold of God's great sun
Let these our colors be Till all of time be done-n-n-ne,
By Severn shore we learn Navy's stern call:
Faith, courage, service true With honor over, honor over all.

The song was gradually adopted as the song of the U.S. Navy; although there is a pending proposal to make it the official song, and to incorporate protocol into Navy regulations for its performance, its status remains unofficial as of 2006.

SIDEBAR: To "weigh anchor" is to bring it aboard a vessel in preparation for departure. The phrase anchor's aweigh is an acknowledgment to the commander that the anchor is clear of the sea bottom and that, therefore, the ship is officially underway.

Listen to the U.S. Navy Band play "Anchors Aweigh":

Anchors Aweigh - Sheet Music (Digital Download)

God Bless the U.S.A. and Other Great Songs of Patriotism For Piano/Vocal/Chords. This edition: Piano/Vocal/Chords. P/V/C Mixed Folio. 0. Patriotic. Book. 32 pages. Published by Alfred Publishing. (MFM0134) See more info...