Music Video

Credits

PERFORMING ARTISTS
Christopher Jackson
Christopher Jackson
Vocals
Daveed Diggs
Daveed Diggs
Vocals
Lin-Manuel Miranda
Lin-Manuel Miranda
Vocals
Okieriete Onaodowan
Okieriete Onaodowan
Vocals
Robin Macatangay
Robin Macatangay
Guitar
Richard Hammond
Richard Hammond
Bass
Anja Wood
Anja Wood
Cello
Alex Lacamoire
Alex Lacamoire
Conductor
Andres Forero
Andres Forero
Drums
Laura Sherman
Laura Sherman
Harp
Benny Reiner
Benny Reiner
Keyboards
Kurt Crowley
Kurt Crowley
Keyboards
Randy Cohen
Randy Cohen
Synthesizer
Scott Wasserman
Scott Wasserman
Programming
Erin Mayland
Erin Mayland
Violin
Jeremy King
Jeremy King
Assistant Programming
Jonathan Dinklage
Jonathan Dinklage
Orchestra Leader
Mario Gotoh
Mario Gotoh
Viola
Nevin Steinberg
Nevin Steinberg
Sound Effects
Taylor Williams
Taylor Williams
Synthesizer Programming
Will Wells
Will Wells
Sampler
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Lin-Manuel Miranda
Lin-Manuel Miranda
Composer
Clifton Nathaniel Chase
Clifton Nathaniel Chase
Composer
Edward G Fletcher
Edward G Fletcher
Composer
Melvin Glover
Melvin Glover
Lyrics
Sylvia Robinson
Sylvia Robinson
Composer
Ron Chernow
Ron Chernow
Based on the Work of
Alex Lacamoire
Alex Lacamoire
Orchestrator
Emily Grishman
Emily Grishman
Copyist
Katharine Edmonds
Katharine Edmonds
Copyist
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Lin-Manuel Miranda
Lin-Manuel Miranda
Producer
Alex Lacamoire
Alex Lacamoire
Producer
Tom Coyne
Tom Coyne
Mastering Engineer
Tim Latham
Tim Latham
Mixing Engineer
Ahmir Thompson
Ahmir Thompson
Producer
Bill Sherman
Bill Sherman
Producer
Tariq Trotter
Tariq Trotter
Producer
Craig Kallman
Craig Kallman
Associate Producer
Derik Lee
Derik Lee
Recording Engineer
Ebonie Smith
Ebonie Smith
Assistant Engineer
Nevin Steinberg
Nevin Steinberg
Sound Design
Riggs Morales
Riggs Morales
Associate Producer
Ron Robinson
Ron Robinson
Assistant Engineer
Sean Patrick Flahaven
Sean Patrick Flahaven
Associate Producer
Thomas Kail
Thomas Kail
Associate Producer
Tyler Hartman
Tyler Hartman
Assistant Engineer

Lyrics

[Intro]
Ladies and gentlemen
You coulda been anywhere in the world tonight
But you're here with us in New York City
Are you ready for a cabinet meeting, huh?
The issue on the table
Secretary Hamilton's plan to assume state debt
And establish a national bank
Secretary Jefferson, you have the floor, sir
[Verse 1]
"Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness"
We fought for these ideals, we shouldn't settle for less
These are wise words, enterprising men quote 'em
Don't act surprised, you guys, 'cause I wrote 'em
Ow, but Hamilton forgets
His plan would have the government assume state's debts
Now, place your bets as to who that benefits
The very seat of government where Hamilton sits
Not true!
[Verse 2]
Ooh, if the shoe fits, wear it
If New York's in debt, why should Virginia bear it?
Uh, our debts are paid, I'm afraid
Don't tax the South 'cause we got it made in the shade
In Virginia, we plant seeds in the ground
We create, you just wanna move our money around
This financial plan is an outrageous demand
And it's too many damn pages for any man to understand
Stand with me in the land of the free
And pray to God we never see Hamilton's candidacy
Look, when Britain taxed our tea, we got frisky
Imagine what gon' happen when you try to tax our whiskey
[Bridge]
Thank you, Secretary Jefferson
Secretary Hamilton, your response
[Verse 3]
Thomas, that was a real nice declaration
Welcome to the present, we're running a real nation
Would you like to join us, or stay mellow
Doin' whatever the hell it is you do in Monticello?
If we assume the debts, the union gets
A new line of credit, a financial diuretic
How do you not get it?
If we're aggressive and competitive
The union gets a boost, you'd rather give it a sedative?
A civics lesson from a slaver, hey neighbor
Your debts are paid 'cause you don't pay for labor
"We plant seeds in the South, we create"
Yeah, keep ranting, we know who's really doing the planting
[Verse 4]
And another thing, Mr. Age of Enlightenment
Don't lecture me about the war, you didn't fight in it
You think I'm frightened of you, man?
We almost died in the trench
While you were off getting high with the French
Thomas Jefferson, always hesitant with the president
Reticent, there isn't a plan he doesn't jettison
Madison, you're mad as a hatter, son, take your medicine
Damn, you're in worse shape than the national debt is in
Sittin' there useless as two shits
Hey, turn around, bend over
I'll show you where my shoe fits
[Bridge]
Excuse me?
Madison, Jefferson, take a walk!
Hamilton, take a walk!
We're gonna reconvene after a brief recess
[Bridge]
Hamilton
Sir
A word
[Verse 5]
You don't have the votes
You don't have the votes
Aha-ha-ha, ha
You're gonna need congressional approval
And you don't have the votes
[Bridge]
Such a blunder, sometimes it makes me wonder
Why I even bring the thunder
Why he even brings the thunder
[Verse 6]
You wanna pull yourself together?
I'm sorry, these Virginians are birds of a feather
Young man, I'm from Virginia, so watch your mouth
So we let Congress get held hostage by the South?
You need the votes
No, we need bold strokes, we need this plan
No, you need to convince more folks
Well, James Madison won't talk to me, that's a nonstarter
Ah, winning was easy, young man, governing's harder
[Verse 7]
They're being intransigent
You have to find a compromise
But they don't have a plan, they just hate mine
Convince them otherwise
And what happens if I don't get congressional approval?
I imagine they'll call for your removal
[Outro]
Sir
Figure it out, Alexander
That's an order from your commander
Written by: Clifton Nathaniel Chase, Edward G Fletcher, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Melvin Glover, Sylvia Robinson
instagramSharePathic_arrow_out