Leslie Odom Jr.
Guns and Ships
[BURR]
How does a ragtag volunteer army in need of a shower
Somehow defeat a global superpower?
How do we emerge victorious from the quagmire?
Leave the battlefield waving Betsy Ross’ flag higher?
Yo. 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]
And I’m never gonna stop until I make ‘em
Drop and burn ‘em up and scatter their remains, I’m

[COMPANY]
Lafayette!
[LAFAYETTE]
Watch me engagin’ em! Escapin’ em!
Enragin’ em! I’m—

[COMPANY]
Lafayette!

[LAFAYETTE]
I go to France for more funds

[COMPANY]
Lafayette!

[LAFAYETTE]
I come back with more

[LAFAYETTE AND ENSEMBLE]
Guns
And ships
And so the balance shifts

[WASHINGTON]
We rendezvous with Rochambeau, consolidate their gifts

[LAFAYETTE]
We can end this war at Yorktown, cut them off at sea, but
For this to succeed, there is someone else we need:
[WASHINGTON]
I know

[WASHINGTON AND COMPANY]
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 & COMPANY]
You wanna fight for your land back? (Hamilton!)

[WASHINGTON & WOMEN]
I need my right hand man back! (Hamilton!)

[LAFAYETTE, WOMEN, MEN]
Ah! Uh, get ya right hand man back
Get your right hand man back!
Hamilton!
You know you gotta get ya right hand man back
Your right hand man back!
Hamilton!
I mean you gotta put some thought into the letter
Ha—ha—Hamilton
But the sooner the better to get your right hand man back!
Hamilton, ha—ha—

[WASHINGTON]
Alexander Hamilton
Troops are waiting in the field for you
If you join us right now, together we can turn the tide
Oh, Alexander Hamilton
I have soldiers that will yield for you
If we manage to get this right
They’ll surrender by early light
The world will never be the same, Alexander…