Anchors Aweigh

History

The song was first played during the Army–Navy football game on December 1, 1906, at Franklin Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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. 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 used by the U.S. Navy's Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, Illinois, in where 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.

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, 'ay 'ay 'ay

Thou our last night ashore

Hail 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.

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 'ay 'ay 'ay

O'er our last night ashore

Hail 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.