Sing – Anchors Aweigh – Youth Activity Archive

The official anthem of the U.S. Navy, originally composed as a football marching song to celebrate the start of a voyage.

Lyrics by: Alfred H. Miles and George D. Lottman
Music by: Charles A. Zimmermann

Recordings

Lyrics

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!

Anchors Aweigh, my boys,
Anchors Aweigh.
Farewell to foreign shores,
We sail at break of day-ay-ay-ay.
Through our last night ashore,
Drink to the foam,
Until we meet once more.
Here’s wishing you a happy voyage home.

Blue of the mighty deep:
Gold of God’s great sun.
Let these our colors be
Till all of time be done, done, done, done.
On seven seas we learn
Navy’s stern call:
Faith, courage, service true,
With honor, over honor, over all.

Original Lyrics

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 shore we learn
Navy’s stern call:
Faith, courage, service true
With honor over, honor over all.

Revised Verse Three

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.

History

“Anchors Aweigh” was composed by Charles A. Zimmermann, the director of the U.S. Naval Academy Band, and Midshipman First Class Alfred Hart Miles. Zimmermann, a Peabody Conservatory graduate who became the band’s youngest leader at age 26, traditionally composed a march for each graduating class. In 1905, Miles approached him on behalf of the Class of 1907, requesting a “lively football marching song” with a “swing to it” that would “live forever.” The two men reportedly worked out the tune and lyrics together while sitting at the organ in the Naval Academy Chapel.

The song’s title refers to the naval expression for an anchor clearing the sea floor, signaling that a voyage has begun. While it may have been performed at a Class Supper in 1905, its first documented use was at the 1906 Farewell Ball, followed by its public debut at the 1806 Army-Navy football game. The midshipmen sang the rousing new tune as they shut out the cadets in a 10-0 victory. Zimmermann continued to lead the band until his sudden death in 1916. He was buried in the Naval Academy cemetery beneath a monument gifted by the midshipmen and inscribed, “Erected by His Midshipmen Friends.”

Over the years, the song has undergone several lyrical revisions to reflect the evolving Navy. Midshipman Royal Lovell added a third stanza, and in the 1920s, George D. Lottman wrote the popular verses that became the standard version for decades. The first commercial recording was released in 1920 by the Columbia Gramophone Company. In 1997, the lyrics were revised again by Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy John Hagen to be more inclusive of all naval personnel.

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Published on April 22, 2026. Author:

Tia Kennard

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