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For other uses, see Anchors Aweigh (disambiguation).

Original sheet music cover

"Anchors Aweigh" is the fight song of the United States Naval Academy, and strongly associated with 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 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. Another Academy Midshipman, Royal Lovell (class of 1926) later wrote what would be adopted into the song as its third verse.

"Anchors Aweigh" is unusual for a college fight song in that its lyrics refer specifically (and repeatedly) to a particular opponent (Army) which may not even be present at the event at which the song is sung.

[edit] Lyrics

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

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's shore we learn Navy's stern call:

Faith, courage, service true with honor over, honor over all.

The Lottman-Savino version published around 1950 in London by Francis, Day & Hunter is:

Verse 1

Anchors Aweigh, my boys

Anchors Aweigh

Farewell to college joys

We sail at break of day, day, day, day

Through our last night ashore

Drink to the foam

Until we meet once more

Here's wishing you a happy voyage home!

Bridge

Heave a ho there! sailor

Ev'rybody drink up while you may

Heave a ho there! sailor

For you're gonna sail at break of day

Drink a-way, Drink a-way,

For you sail at break of day, Hey!

Verse 2

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.

The current lyrics include three verses and two bridges; the second verse is the one most commonly sung.

Anchors Aweigh

A United States Department of Defense brass band performance of Anchors Aweigh.

Problems listening to this file? See media help.

Verse 1 (la la la tune)

Stand Navy out to sea

Fight our battle cry:

We'll never change our course

So vicious foes steer shy-y-y-y

Roll out the T. N. T.

Anchors Aweigh

Sail on to victory

And sink their bones to Davy Jones, hooray!

Bridge

Yo ho there shipmate

Take the fighting to the far off seas

Yo ho there messmate

Hear the wailing of the wild banshees

All hands, fire brands

Let's Blast them as we go. So

Verse 2

Anchors Aweigh my boys

Anchors Aweigh

Farewell to foreign shores (or "Farewell to college joys")

We sail at break of day day day day

Through our last night ashore

Drink to the foam

Until we meet once more

Here's wishing you a happy voyage home!

Bridge

Heave a ho there sailor

Everybody drink up while you may

Heave a ho there sailor

For your gonna sail at break of day

Drink away, Drink away,

For you sail at break of day, Hey!

Verse 3

Blue of the Mighty Deep

Gold of God’s Sun

Let these our colors be

Till all time be done

By Severn Shore we learn

Navy’s stern call

Faith, Courage, Service True

With Honor Over, Honor Over All.

As of the Summer of 2004, the verses taught at Navy Boot Camp are:

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 (most widely sung)

Anchors Aweigh, my boys, Anchors Aweigh.

Farewell to foreign shores, We sail at break of day, of day.

Through our last night on shore, Drink to the foam,

Until we meet once more. Here's wishing you a happy voyage home!

The bridge is kept, and that the references to college are completely dropped.

[edit] History

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 match up since 1900.

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. Its lyrics were considered too specific to the Academy and not representative of the Navy at large, and so were rewritten by George D. Lottman (note the reference to "farewell to college joys"). Its melody was also slightly rewritten by Domenico Savino.

The song is also is used in the US Navy bootcamp in Great Lakes IL, recruits when passing through an underground tunnel heading away from the barracks sing the first verse and sing the second verse on the way back.

[edit] Australian Rules football club songs

The tune of "Anchors Aweigh" (with changed lyrics) is used by the following Australian Rules Football clubs as their theme song.

East Perth Football Club (East Perth Forever Boys)
Hobart Football Club
Arsenal FC {England} in the 1930s.

[edit] Meaning

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

"Weigh" as a verb means to "bear" or "move", thus giving it several shades of meaning and derivation, including "weight" or heaviness. This lends itself to obvious plays on words, as with Flip Wilson's old routine about Christopher Columbus. "Columbus cried, 'Weigh anchor'. A few minutes later, a crewman reported, 'Two thousand, one hundred thirty six pounds'."

[edit] Audio file

Anchors Aweigh by the U.S. Navy Band (ogg file)

[edit] In popular culture

The song is featured in the 1945 MGM musical Anchors Aweigh, performed by the U.S. Navy Band.
It is frequently quoted in Warner Bros. cartoons to indicate nautical themes.
A short instrumental clip featured in the "Baby June And Her News Boys" number in the stage musical Gypsy.
The song is used on The Colbert Report during the X Did It! segments.
The song has been used in TV spots for Carnival Cruise Lines.

[edit] External links

"Anchors Aweigh" by the U.S. Navy Band (mp3 file)
"Anchors Aweigh" (mp3 file; part II of medley)
"Anchors Aweigh" done as instrumental band march (.wav file)

Contents

[edit] Lyrics

[edit] History

[edit] Australian Rules football club songs

[edit] Meaning

[edit] Audio file

[edit] In popular culture

[edit] External links