Charles A. Zimmerman (1862-1916) was a bandleader and lieutenant at the U.S. Naval Academy when he wrote the tune for this 1906 song. He composed it at the request of Midshipman Alfred H. Miles, who provided the lyrics. The two collaborated on the effort intending to produce a new fighting song for the Naval Academy's football team. But the song grew immensely popular and eventually, with different lyrics, it became the official song of the United States Navy. Midshipman Ryan Lovell added a third verse to the song, and then George D. Lottman revised the lyrics altogether, creating the well-known version. The "Anchors Aweigh" theme is familiar throughout the United States and much of the world. The melody—really a march tune—steps forward with as much pride and patriotism as joy and sunshine, sailing high in its first half, then winding downward and spiraling upward alternately in its jaunty, equally scintillating latter half. It is the second verse of the revised version that is most famous, with its "Anchors Aweigh, my boys...." lyrics. Lottman purged the original version of its references to football, and wedded the tune's catchy, bright manner to his brilliant, patriotic text.

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