Dear Sun Spots: As we honor our veterans on Veterans Day, it occurs to me that most people are familiar with the Navy hymn “Eternal Father, Strong to Save” (not “Anchors Away”), and people are less familiar with the official Army hymn (not “Over Hill Over Dale”) and Air Force hymn (not “Wild Blue Yonder”). Can you enlighten me? – Dave Colburn, Wilton.

Answer: According to the Navy’s Web site, www.navy.mil/, “Eternal Father” is the current official Navy hymn. “Anchors Aweigh” is from the archaic word “aweigh” meaning to heave, hoist or raise. The anchor is aweigh when it is pulled from the bottom. This event is noted in the ship’s log.

“Anchors Aweigh,” a popular Navy ballad written in 1906 by composer Lt. Charles A. Zimmermann, and Midshipman 1st Class Alfred Hart Miles who gave it the title and wrote the first two stanzas, was first played by the Naval Academy Band and sung by the brigade at the 1906 Army-Navy football game. The march was dedicated to the academy’s Class of 1907 and adopted as the official song of the Navy. The third stanza was written by Midshipman Royal Lovell, Class of 1926.

In reference to the Army and Air Force hymns mentioned in your letter, according to Joe Tersero, Air Force chief music librarian, the official hymn for the Army is “Mighty is Our Army” by Ralph Lee Bowerman and the official hymn of the Air Force is “Lord, Guard and Guide the Men Who Fly.” He notes that the Air Force hymn isn’t the same as the Air Force song, entitled “The U.S. Air Force” by Robert Crawford, which begins with “Off We Go …”

Sun Spots hopes you will enjoy the following lyrics:

“Anchors Aweigh”

Original lyrics by Lt. Charles A. Zimmermann



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 lyrics by George D. Lottman

Verse 2 is the one most widely sung.

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 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.

“Lord, Guard and Guide the Men Who Fly”

Official hymn of the Air Force

Music by Henry Baker (1854)

Words by Mary C. D. Hamilton (1915)

Lord, guard and guide the men who fly

Through the great spaces of the sky;

Be with them traversing the air

In darkening storms or sunshine fair. Amen.

Thou who dost keep with tender might

The balanced birds in all their flight,

Tough of the tempered winds, be near,

That, having Thee, they know no fear.

Control their minds with instinct fit

What time, adventuring, they quit

The firm security of land;

Grant steadfast eye and skillful hand.

Aloft in solitudes of space,

Uphold them with Thy saving grace.

O God, protect the men who fly

Thru lonely ways beneath the sky. Amen.



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