Leslie Odom Jr.
The Election of 1800
[FULL COMPANY]
The election of 1800
[JEFFERSON]
Can we get back to politics?
[MADISON]
Please?
[JEFFERSON]
Yo. Ev’ry action has an equal, opposite reaction
John Adams shat the bed. I love the guy, but he’s in traction
Poor Alexander Hamilton? He is missing in action
So now I’m facing—
[JEFFERSON AND MADISON]
Aaron Burr!
[JEFFERSON]
With his own faction
[MADISON]
He’s very attractive in the North. New Yorkers like his chances
[JEFFERSON]
He’s not very forthcoming on any particular stances
[MADISON]
Ask him a question: it glances off, he obfuscates, he dances
[JEFFERSON]
And they say I’m a Francophile: at least they know I know where France is!
[MADISON]
Thomas that’s the problem, see, they see Burr as a less extreme you
[JEFFERSON]
Ha!
[MADISON]
You need to change course, a key endorsement might redeem you
[JEFFERSON]
Who did you have in mind?
[MADISON]
Don’t laugh
[JEFFERSON]
Who is it?
[MADISON]
You used to work on the same staff
[JEFFERSON]
Whaaaat
[MADISON]
It might be nice, it might be nice
To get Hamilton on your side
[JEFFERSON AND MADISON]
It might be nice, it might be nice
To get Hamilton on your side
[BURR & ENSEMBLE]
Talk less!
Burr!
Smile more!
Burr!
Don’t let ‘em know what you’re against or what you’re for!
Burr!
Shake hands with him!
Burr!
Charm her!
Burr!
It’s eighteen hundred, ladies, tell your husbands: vote for
Burr!
[MALE VOTER 1]
I don’t like Adams
[FEMALE VOTER 1]
Well, he’s gonna lose, that’s just defeatist
[MALE VOTER 1]
And Jefferson—
[TWO MEN VOTERS]
In love with France!
[FEMALE VOTER 1]
Yeah, he’s so elitist!
[TWO WOMEN]
I like that Aaron Burr!
[FEMALE VOTER 2]
I can’t believe we’re here with him!
[MALE VOTER 1]
He seems approachable…?
[MALE VOTER 2]
Like you could grab a beer with him!
[ENSEMBLE]
Dear Mr. Hamilton: your fellow Fed’ralists would like to know how you’ll be voting
[HAMILTON]
It’s quiet uptown
[ENSEMBLE]
Dear Mr. Hamilton: John Adams doesn’t stand a chance, so who are you promoting?
[HAMILTON]
It’s quiet uptown
[MEN, WOMEN, & BOTH]
Jefferson or Burr?
Jefferson or Burr?
We know it’s lose-lose
Jefferson or Burr?
Jefferson or Burr?
But if you had to choose
[EVEN MORE VOTERS & MEN AND WOMEN]
Dear Mr. Hamilton: (Jefferson or Burr?)
John Adams doesn’t stand a chance so who are you promoting? (We know it’s lose-lose
Jefferson or Burr?)
But if you had to choose (But if you had to choose)
[HAMILTON]
Well, if it isn’t Aaron Burr. Sir!
[BURR]
Alexander!
[HAMILTON]
You’ve created quite a stir, sir!
[BURR]
I’m going door to door!
[HAMILTON]
You’re openly campaigning?
[BURR]
Sure!
[HAMILTON]
That’s new
[BURR]
Honestly, it’s kind of draining
[HAMILTON]
Burr—
[BURR]
Sir!
[HAMILTON]
Is there anything you wouldn’t do?
[BURR]
No. I’m chasing what I want
And you know what?
[HAMILTON]
What?
[BURR]
I learned that from you
[ENSEMBLE]
If you had to choose
If you had to choose
[MADISON]
It’s a tie!
[ENSEMBLE]
If you had to choose
If you had to choose
[JEFFERSON]
It’s up to the delegates!
[ENSEMBLE]
If you had to choose
If you had to choose
[JEFFERSON/MADISON]
It’s up to Hamilton!
[VOTERS & MADISON AND ENSEMBLE]
If you had to choose (Jefferson or Burr?)
If you had to choose
If you had to
Choose (Choose)
Choose (Choose)
Choose! (Choose!)
[HAMILTON]
Yo
[ENSEMBLE]
Oh!
[HAMILTON]
The people are asking to hear my voice
[ENSEMBLE]
Oh!
[HAMILTON]
For the country is facing a difficult choice
[ENSEMBLE]
Oh!
[HAMILTON]
And if you were to ask me who I’d promote—
[ENSEMBLE]
Oh!
[HAMILTON]
—Jefferson has my vote
[JEFFERSON/MADISON/ENSEMBLE]
Oh!
[HAMILTON]
I have never agreed with Jefferson once
[JEFFERSON/MADISON/ENSEMBLE]
Oh!
[HAMILTON]
We have fought on like seventy-five diff’rent fronts
[JEFFERSON/MADISON/ENSEMBLE]
Oh!
[HAMILTON]
But when all is said and all is done
Jefferson has beliefs. Burr has none
[ENSEMBLE]
Oooooooooooooh
[MADISON AND JEFFERSON]
Well, I’ll be damned
Well, I’ll be damned
[MADISON]
Hamilton’s on your side
[ENSEMBLE]
Well, I’ll be damned
Well, I’ll be damned
[JEFFERSON]
And?
[MADISON]
You won in a landslide
[BURR]
Congrats on a race well-run
I did give you a fight
[JEFFERSON]
Uh-huh
[BURR]
I look forward to our partnership
[JEFFERSON]
Our partnership?
[BURR]
As your vice-President
[JEFFERSON]
Ha. Yeah, right
You hear this guy? Man openly campaigns against me, talkin’ bout, “I look forward to our partnership.”
[MADISON]
It’s crazy that the guy who comes in second gets to be Vice President
[JEFFERSON]
Ooh!, you know what? We can change that. You know why?
[MADISON]
Why?
[JEFFERSON]
‘cuz I’m the President. Hey, Burr, when you see Hamilton, thank him for the endorsement