A fight song is a rousing short song associated with a sports team . The term is most common in the United States and Canada. In Australia, Mexico, and New Zealand, these songs are called the team anthem , team song , or games song. First associated with collegiate sports, fight songs are also used by secondary schools and in professional sports.
27-398: " Anchors Aweigh " is the fight song of the United States Naval Academy and unofficial march song of the United States Navy . It was composed in 1906 by Charles A. Zimmermann with lyrics by Alfred Hart Miles. When he composed "Anchors Aweigh", Zimmermann was a lieutenant and had been bandmaster of the United States Naval Academy Band since 1887. Miles was midshipman first class at
54-414: A vice admiral in billet , seating, transportation, and parking. In 1966, the opportunity was given to sailors in the U.S. Navy's two largest areas of concentration, Hampton Roads, Virginia , and San Diego County, California , to voice their concerns, complaints, and recommendations to the top levels of the U.S. Navy. The response was overwhelming; naval leaders realized that they were out of touch with
81-674: A joyful, brisk melody, and it has been adopted by several other navies around the world, such as the Finnish Navy . In addition to being bandmaster at the Naval Academy, Zimmerman was also the organist at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Annapolis, and the opening notes of the melody to "Anchors Aweigh" bear a marked similarity (although in a different tempo) to the opening of the ancient Marian hymn Salve Regina , with which Zimmerman would have been thoroughly familiar. During World War II , members of
108-518: 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 has
135-606: A pre-existing tune, even another college's fight song. Hundreds of colleges have fight songs, most originating from the early 20th century in connection with football. The first collegiate fight song in the United States is Boston College's "For Boston", written and composed by T. J. Hurley in 1885. One of the oldest fight songs in Australia is Melbourne Grammar School 's "Play Together, Dark Blue Twenty" dating to before 1893. In 1997, USA Today selected " Aggie War Hymn ",
162-444: A sporting event. For example, the band might play the fight song when entering the stadium, whenever their team scores, or while cheerleaders dance at halftime or during other breaks in the game. In Australian rules football , the team song is traditionally sung by the winning team at the end of the game. Some fight songs have a long history, connecting the fans who sing them to a time-honored tradition, frequently to music played by
189-479: Is an old English sailors' expression first referenced in literature in John Dryden 's The Tempest, 1670. It is an order that a ship's anchors be raised, To "weigh anchor" is to bring all anchor(s) aboard the vessel in preparation for departure. In response to the order, the phrase "anchors aweigh" reports back that all anchors are clear of the sea bottom; therefore the ship is officially under way . "Anchors aweigh"
216-695: Is designated as a special paygrade above E-9 . The holder of this position is the most senior enlisted member of the U.S. Navy, equivalent to the sergeant major of the Army , chief master sergeant of the Air Force , sergeant major of the Marine Corps , master chief petty officer of the Coast Guard , and chief master sergeant of the Space Force . The holder of this rank and position is the most senior enlisted sailor in
243-404: Is often misspelled as "Anchor's away", leading to confusing the terms, and sometimes misunderstanding the order as meaning "to drop anchor". Confusion may also occur over two correct spellings typically encountered: that is, "anchor's" with an apostrophe, and without ("anchors"). Here the phrase "anchor's aweigh", (denoting a single anchor plus the contraction of the verb "is") means: this anchor
270-447: Is raised. The single phrase must be distinguished from the plural "anchors aweigh", which reports that all anchors of the ship are raised. Although the original (now archaic) "aweigh" is verbal and transitive, the "aweigh" used now is adjectival/adverbial in nature and meaning. "Weigh" as a verb means to "bear" or "move", thus giving it several shades of meaning and derivation, including "weight" or "heaviness". Many arrangements of
297-674: The Japan Self-Defense Forces , the Bundeswehr , and other nations' militaries. The song was first played during the Army–Navy football game on December 1, 1906, at Franklin Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Navy won the game 10–0 before a crowd in excess of 30,000, their first win in the matchup since 1900. The song was gradually adopted as the song of the U.S. Navy; although there is
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#1732883520914324-511: The chief of naval personnel . Their exact duties vary, depending on the CNO, though they generally devote much of their time to traveling throughout the Navy observing training and talking to sailors and their families. Their personnel code is N00D as the senior enlisted advisor to Chief of Naval Operations and PERS-00D in their special advisory capacity to Chief of Naval Personnel/Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Manpower, Personnel, and Training). In 1988,
351-543: The CNO and CNP. During the MCPON's tenure, a third silver star above the gold anchor is added onto the MCPON's collar and cap devices, as well as a rating badge consisting of a perched eagle atop three inverted gold chevrons, one rocker, and three inverted gold stars above the eagle. The MCPON's rating specialty mark is replaced by a single inverted gold star. The MCPON will also wear the Master Chief Petty Officer of
378-625: The Cornhuskers", and " Dear Old Nebraska U " "The Red and White Song" and "Rhode Island Born" and "Mine Eyes" Lead the Way " We Raise our Voice in Love and Unity" " Mighty Bruins " "Go, Fight for UNA" MCPON The master chief petty officer of the Navy ( MCPON / ˈ m ɪ k p ɒ n / ) is a unique non-commissioned rank and position of office of the United States Navy , which
405-513: The MCPON's spouse was made the Ombudsman -at-Large, authorizing them to travel around the fleet with their spouse, representing the interests of the spouses of enlisted members. The MCPON serves an appointed two-year term of office but can be reappointed by the CNO for an additional two-year term. Typically; the MCPON serves two terms. While the MCPON is a non-commissioned officer, this rank is protocoled higher than all rear admirals and equivalent to
432-516: The Navy Women's Reserve, known more popularly as the WAVES , wrote "WAVES of the Navy" to harmonize with "Anchors Aweigh". Bing Crosby included the song in a medley on his album 101 Gang Songs (1961). "Anchors Aweigh" (1906 version), which is still used today at the Naval Academy. 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
459-422: The Navy, unless an enlisted sailor is serving as the senior enlisted advisor to the chairman . The current MCPON is James Honea . The master chief petty officer of the Navy is appointed by the chief of naval operations to serve as a spokesperson to address the issues of enlisted personnel to the highest positions in the Navy. As such, they are the senior enlisted advisor to the chief of naval operations and to
486-632: 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. Revised Lyrics of 1997 by then- MCPON John Hagan which is used today by the Navy: 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
513-716: 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. Fight song Fight songs are sing-alongs , allowing sports fans to cheer collectively for their team. These songs are commonly played several times at
540-495: The academy, in the class of 1907, and had asked Zimmermann to assist him in composing a song for that class, to be used as a football march. Another academy midshipman, Royal Lovell (class of 1926), later wrote what would be adopted into the song as its third verse. Another member of the Naval Academy Band, Willy Perlitz Jr., assisting in writing the music for the different instruments used in "Anchors Aweigh". " Weigh anchor "
567-427: The desires of enlisted sailors. To provide a permanent channel for input from the enlisted force to their senior leadership, the Navy acted on a suggestion to create a "Leading Chief Petty Officer of the Navy" who would have a direct dialogue channel with all enlisted sailors and represent their interests. Initially, the post was known as the senior enlisted advisor of the Navy , and on 13 January 1967 GMCM Delbert Black
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#1732883520914594-483: The fight song of Texas A&M University , as the "No. 1" college football fight song in the United States. Although used similarly, stadium anthems differ from fight songs because they are not written specifically for a sports team. Fight songs are also different from an alma mater or school song, which is a patronal song for an educational institution and usually has a slower tempo. Many colleges have unofficial fight songs or have changed their official song over
621-535: The institution's band. An analysis of 65 college fight songs by FiveThirtyEight identified words commonly used in the lyrics of these songs, including fight, win, and victory. Other common elements of fight song lyrics are mentioning the team's colors, spelling out the school's name, and using the words "hail" and "rah." Many songs were composed by students, alumni, or faculty of the institution; for example, Cole Porter wrote "Bulldog" for his alma mater Yale College . Some songs are created by pairing new lyrics with
648-831: The score, Navy, anchors aweigh! Sail Navy down the field and sink the Army, sink the Army grey! 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! Blue of the Seven Seas; Gold of God's Great Sun Let these our colors be till all of time be done, done, done, By Severn's shore we learn Navy's stern call: Faith, Courage, Service true, with Honor, Over Honor, Over All. Revised Lyrics of 1926 by George D. Lottman: 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
675-408: The song exist, but the original composition by Zimmermann from 1906, is labelled as a "March and Two-Step" and consists of a lengthy instrumental march introductory section, which then becomes a two-step with lyrical accompaniment approximately halfway into the piece. Many arrangements of "Anchors Aweigh" exist today, one arrangement by Paul V. Yoder often sees use by military bands, such as those of
702-477: The years. Additionally, some colleges have rally songs, spirit songs, cheer songs, and alma maters. This list is exclusively for the fight song or songs currently approved by the institution, even if played infrequently. "Cheer for Old Amherst" "The Brown Cheering Song" and "Drive Canisius" and "Bulldogs of Gonzaga" "Johnny Hopkins on to Victory" and "Fight, Siwash" "Hail to the Spirit of Miami U" " March of
729-452: Was selected to serve a four-year term in that capacity. On 28 April of the same year, Black's title was changed to Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy to bring the Navy in line with the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Army , which had created equivalent positions in 1957 and July 1966 respectively. MCPON Black's duties were to the Chief of Naval Personnel. All subsequent MCPONs have reported to both
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