“Anchors Aweigh” stands as one of the world’s most recognized and stirring melodies. This unofficial song of the U.S. Navy reached its centennial milestone in 2006, an occasion commemorated by a special coin. The music that makes “Anchors Aweigh” so iconic was composed by Charles A. Zimmermann, the U.S. Naval Academy’s Bandmaster and Music Director, paired with lyrics penned by Midshipman Alfred H. Miles.
The reverse side of the United States Navy “Anchors Aweigh” centennial commemorative coin, celebrating 100 years of the iconic naval song.
Charles A. Zimmermann’s life was deeply intertwined with music and the Navy. A graduate of the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, he dedicated his career to the U.S. Naval Academy Band, serving as its director from 1887 until his passing in 1916. His connection to the Academy began even earlier; born in Newport, Rhode Island in 1861, during the Civil War relocation of the Naval Academy to that city, his father, Charles Z. Zimmermann, was a bandsman there. Zimmermann himself officially joined the band on July 1, 1882, as a third cornetist. By 1887, at the young age of 26, he succeeded Peter Schoff as bandmaster, becoming the youngest person to ever lead the prestigious Naval Academy Band.
Zimmermann’s musical talent garnered national attention when he conducted a 120-musician orchestra at President Grover Cleveland’s inaugural ball in 1893. His reputation grew further, and in 1897, he was offered the leadership of the renowned Marine Band, succeeding Sousa’s replacement, Francesco Fanciulli. However, Zimmermann declined this high-profile position. He preferred to remain at the Naval Academy, allowing him to focus on composing and guest conducting without the intense pressures associated with the Washington-based Marine Band.
Professor Charles Zimmermann at the piano, leading his orchestra with the Naval Academy’s Midshipman theater group, “The Masqueraders,” in Mahan Hall, circa 1909.
Alfred H. Miles, the lyricist behind “Anchors Aweigh,” was a Midshipman First Class from the class of 1907 when he collaborated with Zimmermann. Miles also had deep naval roots; his father, Charles C. Miles, served as a Naval Officer during the Haitian campaign of 1915. Alfred Miles himself embarked on a distinguished Surface Warfare Officer career. His notable commands included Executive Officer at the Naval Submarine Base in Norfolk, Commanding Officer of the Naval Station at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and the inaugural Commanding Officer of the Little Creek Amphibious Base. He retired from the Navy with the rank of Captain.
Original sheet music cover for “Anchors Aweigh,” the iconic song of the United States Navy.
The story of “Anchors Aweigh”‘s creation is as compelling as the song itself. Zimmermann had a tradition of composing a march nearly every year for the graduating class. Midshipman Miles approached Zimmermann on behalf of his class, the Class of 1907, requesting a new march. They desired “a piece of music that would be inspiring, one with a swing to it so that it could be used as a football marching song, and one that would live forever.” Legend has it that the two men collaborated at the chapel organ, Zimmermann composing the melody while Miles conceived the title and penned the initial two verses. The title, “Anchors Aweigh,” originates from the nautical term describing the moment a ship’s anchor is raised clear of the seabed, signifying the beginning of a voyage. This spirited march, “Anchors Aweigh”, was dedicated to the Naval Academy Class of 1907.
Due to officer shortages in the fleet, the Class of 1907 graduated in three sections, with the first ceremony in February 1906. This placed their Class Supper in October 1905, suggesting the possibility that “Anchors Aweigh” may have been performed then, though no record confirms this. The first documented performance of “Anchors Aweigh” occurred at the 1906 Farewell Ball on February 12, 1906. Its public debut followed at Franklin Field in Philadelphia during the 1906 Army-Navy football game. Notably, in that game, Navy triumphed over Army 10-0, their first victory since 1900!
A dance card from the February 12, 1906 Farewell Ball, featuring Zimmerman’s “Anchors Aweigh” listed as song number 14 on the program.
Zimmermann’s contributions were further recognized when he was promoted to Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps through a Congressional act on April 12, 1910. This act established the Naval Academy Band as a regular Navy unit with forty members, led by a leader authorized the same pay as a Marine Corps Second Lieutenant, along with an assistant leader. “Zimmy,” as he was affectionately known by the Midshipmen, continued his service as Naval Academy Band director until his sudden death from a brain hemorrhage on January 16, 1916. Second Lieutenant Zimmermann was honored with a full military funeral, with midshipmen as pallbearers, and classes were suspended for the entire regiment to attend his burial at St. Mary’s Cemetery on January 19, 1916. Later, Zimmermann’s remains were moved to the Naval Academy cemetery, where a grand granite monument, gifted by the classes of 1916 and 1917, was erected in his memory. The inscription at the base of the cross reads, “Erected by His Midshipmen Friends.”
The granite tombstone of Charles A. Zimmermann at the U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery, a memorial erected by the classes of 1916 and 1917.
The first commercial recording of “Anchors Aweigh” was released on June 9, 1920, by Columbia Gramophone Company. This record featured Zimmermann’s “Anchors’ Aweigh” alongside Adolph Torovsky’s “March of the Middies.” (Torovsky had served as Zimmermann’s Assistant Director and succeeded him as Director of the Naval Academy Band after Zimmermann’s death in 1916.)
Over time, “Anchors Aweigh” evolved. Midshipman Royal Lovell of the Class of 1926 added a third stanza, and George D. Lottman later penned popular verses that were widely used until 1997. In that year, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) John Hagen revised these verses to be more inclusive of all naval personnel.
Despite its fame, no original manuscript of “Anchors Aweigh” has ever been discovered. The oldest known manuscript is a full band arrangement by First Lieutenant Adolf Torovsky, USMC, dating back to 1926 and currently preserved in the U.S. Naval Academy Archives.
Original Lyrics by Midshipman Alfred H. Miles (1906)
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 under way, 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 added by George D. Lottman (1926)
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.
Revised Lyrics of 1997 by MCPON John Hagen, USN (Ret)
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 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.
Verse 3
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.
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