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 gonna 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 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.
[applause]
Ladies and gentlemen, rapper, actor, and Academy Award-winning composer, Common.
[applause]
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 theatre 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 pieces of art ever made.
Nominated for a record 16 Tony Awards tonight,
give it up for the company of "Hamilton."
[applause]
Let me tell you what I wish I'd known
when I was young and dreamed of glory.
You have 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
1781.
Monsieur Hamilton.
Monsieur Lafayette.
In command where you belong
How you say, no sweat? We're finally on the field. We’ve had quite a run.
Immigrants:
We get the job done.
[applause]
So what happens if we win?
I go 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
See you on the other side
Till we meet again, let’s go!
I am not throwin’ away my shot!
Hey yo, I’m just like my country, I’m young Scrappy and hungry
And I’m not throwin’ away my shot!
I am not throwin’ away my shot!
Till the world turns upside down…
Till the world turns upside down.
I imagine death so much it 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
Weapon in my hand, a command, and my men with me
Then I remember my Eliza’s expecting me... Not only that, my Eliza’s 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!
What?
The bullets out your gun!
What?
We move under cover and we move as one
Through the night, we have one shot to live another day We cannot let a stray gunshot give us away
We will fight up close, seize the moment and stay in it
It’s either that or meet the business end of a bayonet
The code word is "Rochambeau," dig me?
Rochambeau!
You have your orders now, go, man, go!
And so the American experiment begins With my friends all scattered to the winds
Laurens is in South Carolina, redefining brav’ry
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
Hercules Mulligan!
A tailor spyin’ on the British government! I take their measurements, information and then I smuggle it
Up
To my brother's revolutionary covenant I’m runnin’ with the Sons of Liberty and I am lovin’ it!
See, that’s what happens when you up against the ruffians We in the shit now, somebody gotta shovel it!
Hercules Mulligan, I need no introduction When you knock me down I get the fuck back up again!
Whoo!
Left! Right! Hold!
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 a 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.
We negotiate the terms of surrender
I see George Washington smile
We escort their men out of Yorktown They stagger home single file
Tens of thousands of people flood the streets There are screams and church bells ringing
And as our fallen foes retreat I hear the drinking song they’re singing…
The world turned upside down
Down, down, down!
Freedom for America, freedom for France!
Down, down, down!
Gotta start a new nation Gotta meet my son
Down, down, down!
We won! We won! We won! We won!
The world turned upside down!
[applause]