When he composed "Anchors Aweigh", Zimmermann was a lieutenant and had been bandmaster of the United States Naval Academy Band since 1887.

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" is an old English sailors' expression first referenced in literature in John Dryden's The Tempest, 1670.

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").

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.

[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.

Revised Lyrics of 1926 by George D. Lottman:[1] Stand, Navy, out to sea, Fight our battle cry; We'll never change our course, So vicious foe steer shy-y-y-y.

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!