Lin-Manuel Miranda
Guns & Ships (First Draft 2014)
[BURR]
How does a ragtag volunteer army in need of a shower
Somehow defeat a global superpower?
How does King George underestimate his haters?

[KING GEORGE]
When we beat the traitors, we'll be greeted as liberators!

[COMPANY]
Yay!

[BURR]
No. Turns out we have a secret weapon
An immigrant you know and love who’s unafraid to step in
He’s constantly confusin’, confoundin’ the British henchmen
Ev’ryone give it up for America’s favorite fighting Frenchman!

[COMPANY]
Lafayette!

[LAFAYETTE]
I’m takin this horse by the reins makin’
Redcoats redder with bloodstains

[COMPANY]
Lafayette!
[LAFAYETTE]
Never gonna stop 'til I make ‘em
Drop, burn ‘em up and scatter their remains, I’m—

[COMPANY]
Lafayette!

[LAFAYETTE]
Watch me engagin' em, escapin’ em
Enragin’ em, I am—

[COMPANY]
Lafayette!

[LAFAYETTE]
I go to France for more funds

[COMPANY]
Lafayette!

[LAFAYETTE]
Come back with more

[LAFAYETTE AND ENSEMBLE]
Guns
And ships
And so the balance shifts
[WASHINGTON]
We rendezvous with Rochambeau, consolidate their gifts
We can end the war in Yorktown, cut them off at sea

[LAFAYETTE]
Oui

[WASHINGTON]
For this to succeed, there's someone else I need:

[LAFAYETTE]
Please

[LAFAYETTE AND ENSEMBLE]
Hamilton!

[LAFAYETTE]
Sir, he knows what to do in a trench
Ingenuitive and fluent in French, I mean—

[WASHINGTON AND COMPANY]
Hamilton!

[LAFAYETTE]
Sir, you’re gonna have to use him eventually
What’s he gonna do on the bench? I mean—
[WASHINGTON AND COMPANY]
Hamilton!

[LAFAYETTE]
No one has more resilience
Or matches my practical, tactical brilliance—

[WASHINGTON AND COMPANY]
Hamilton!

[LAFAYETTE]
You wanna fight for your land back?

[WASHINGTON AND COMPANY]
Hamilton!

[LAFAYETTE]
You need your right-hand man back!

Hand man back! [ENSEMBLE] [LAFAYETTE] [WASHINGTON] Hamilton! Ah ah I need my right ah ah hand man back! You need your right hand man back! Hamilton! I need my right hand man back! You need your right hand man back! [record scratching] I need my right Right hand man back! hand man back! [WASHINGTON]
Alexander Hamilton
Troops are waiting in the field for you
If you join us right now, together we can turn the tide
Alexander Hamilton
I have soldiers who will yield for you
If we m—