Good evening. Seven years ago a young man came to a poetry jam that Michelle and I held at the White House. He took the mic and said that he was going to perform a song from something he was working on about the life of somebody who embodies hip-hop.
America's first Treasury Secretary. I confess, we all laughed, but who's laughing now? Seven years later, Hamilton has become not only a smash hit, but a civics lesson our kids can't get enough of.
One with fierce... youthful energy, one where rap is the language of revolution and hip-hop its urgent soundtrack. It's a musical about the miracle that is America, a place of citizenship where we debate ideas with passion and conviction.
A place of inclusiveness where we value our boisterous diversity as a great gift. A place of opportunity where no matter how humble our origins, we can make it if we try. That's the story of America, an experiment that is not yet yet finished, a project that belongs to all of us.
America is what we, the people, make of it, as long as we stay just like our country, young, scrappy, and hungry. That's the story of Hamilton, and you get to see it coming up. Ladies and gentlemen, rapper, actor, and Academy Award winning composer Common. In every art form there are game changers.
Artists whose unique voice and vision have a significant impact on the way we think and create. The next nominee for Best Musical not only changed the game for theater here in New York. It's become a cultural phenomenon. Lin-Manuel Miranda's ingenious rhymes and contemporary beats have inspired young and old to come to Broadway.
Simply put, it's one of the greatest piece of art ever made. Nominated for a record, 16 Tony Awards tonight. Give it up for the company of Hamilton.
Let me tell you what I wish I'd known When I was young and dreamed of glory Who had no control Who lives, who dies, who tells your story I know that we can win. I know that greatness lies in you. But remember from here on in, history has its eyes on you.
History has its eyes on you. The Battle of Yorktown 1781 Monsieur Hamilton Monsieur Lafayette In command where you belong Are you saying no sweat? We're finally on the field, we've had quite a run Immigrants We get the job done So what happens if we win?
Back to France, I bring freedom to my people if I'm given the chance. We'll be with you when you do. Go lead your men.
I'll see you on the other side. Till we meet again, let's go. I am not going away, my shop. I am not going away, my shop. Hey, I'm just like my country, I'm not a scrap.
I'm not being hungry and I'm not throwing away my shot I am not throwing away my shot Till the world turns upside down Till the world turns upside down I imagine death somewhat feels more like a memory This is where it gets me On my feet the enemy ahead of me If this is the end of me at least I have a friend with me Reppin'with my hands at command of my men with me Then I remember my allies is expecting me Not only that my allies is expecting so We gotta go, gotta get the job done Gotta start a new nation, gotta meet my son Take the bullets out your gun The bullets out your gun We move undercover and we move as one Through the night we have one shot To live another day we cannot let a stray gunshot Give us a way we won't fight up close Seize the moment and stay in it It's either gotta meet the business end of a bayonet The code word is Rochambeau, diggy? Rochambeau! You have your orders now, go man, go So the American experiment begins With my friends all scattered to the winds Lawrence is in South Carolina We use the fun and bravery We'll never be free until we end slavery.
When we finally drive the British away, Lafayette is there waiting in Chesapeake Bay. How did we know that this plan would work? We had a spy on the inside, that's right, a police officer!
Until I spy on the British government, I take their measurements, information, and then I say... To my brother's revolutionary covenant A runner with his tons of liberty and I am loving it See that's what happens when you up against the ruffians We in the shit, somebody's gotta shovel it Hercules Mulligan, I need no introduction When you knock me down I get the fuck back up again Woo! Red, white, orange!
Go! What? What? What? After a week of fighting, a young man in a red coat stands on a parapet.
We lower our guns as he frantically waves their white handkerchief. And just like that it's over, we tend to our wounded, we count our dead. Black and white soldiers wonder alike if this really means freedom.
Not yet. I see George Washington smile. We escort their men out of Yorktown. They stab a home single file.
Tens of thousands of people flood the streets. There are screams and church bells ringing. And as our fathers and mothers and mothers and fathers and mothers and fathers and mothers and fathers and fathers and fathers and fathers and fathers and fathers and fathers and fathers and fathers and fathers and fathers and fathers and fathers and fathers and fathers and fathers and fathers and fathers and fathers and fathers Fallen foes retreat.
I hear the drinking song they're singing. The world turned upside down. The world turned upside down. The world turned upside down. The world turned upside down.
Down, down, down, down, down. Freedom for America, freedom for France! Down, down, down, down, down. Down, down, down That's our new nation, gotta be my son Down, down, down We won, we won, we won The world turned upside down