“In spite of its modern association with all events hosted by the United States Navy, this piece actually started out as full-fledged march composed for the Navy Football team. Zimmerman was a composer of some note who was selected to lead the Navy band at the age of 26 in 1887, a band his father had also played in. As bandmaster, he composed a march for every graduating class of the Naval Academy at Annapolis, and subsequently awarded gold medals by each class for his effort. In November of 1906, "Zimmy" (as the cadets fondly called him) was approached by Midshipman Miles with a request to create a march "with a swing" to it for the football team. The two men reportedly worked out the tune in the Academy Chapel at the organ, and it was debuted as Stand Navy Down The Field at the Army-Navy at the end of the month (Navy won!). It also became the official march for the 1907 graduating class. The march we commonly hear today, which was offically (sic) adopted by the U.S. Navy in 1926, constitutes only a part of the full piece. The lyrics apply to the second and third iterations of the trio, and the first and second strains of the march are rarely heard. Incidentally, the term "aweigh" comes from the phrase "to weigh anchor", which means to raise or hoist. The current set of lyrics did not appear until the adoption of the piece in the 1920s.” Source:
“Anchors Aweigh (The Navy Fight Song) Original
Words (1906) by Midshipman First Class Alfred Hart Miles and
Music by Lieutenant Charles A. Zimmermann Revised Words by George D. Lottman
Original Lyrics
Verse 1: 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.
Verse 2: 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
Verse 3: 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.
Revised Lyrics
Verse 1: Stand, Navy, out to sea, Fight our battle cry; We'll never change our course, So vicious foe steer shy-y-y-y. Roll out the TNT, Anchors Aweigh. Sail on to victory And sink their bones to Davy Jones, hooray!
Verse 2: Anchors Aweigh, my boys, Anchors Aweigh. Farewell to college joys; we sail at break of day-ay-ay-ay. Through our last night on shore, drink to the foam, Until we meet once more. Here's wishing you a happy voyage home. ”
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