Cover art for The Election of 1800 (2014 Workshop) by Lin-Manuel Miranda

The Election of 1800 (2014 Workshop)

Feb. 17, 20151 viewer9.3K views

The Election of 1800 (2014 Workshop) Lyrics

[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
Smile more!

Don’t let ‘em know what you’re against or what you’re for!

Shake hands with him!

Charm her!

It’s eighteen hundred, ladies, tell your husbands: vote for
Burr!

[MALE VOTER]
I don’t like Adams

[FEMALE VOTER]
Well, he’s gonna lose, that’s just defeatist

[ANOTHER MALE VOTER]
And Jefferson—

[TWO MEN]
In love with France!

[ANOTHER FEMALE VOTER]
Yeah, he’s so elitist!

[TWO WOMEN]
I like that Aaron Burr!

[A WOMAN]
I can’t believe we’re here with him!

[A MAN]
He seems approachable…?

[ANOTHER MALE VOTER]
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]
Jefferson or Burr?

We know it’s lose-lose
Jefferson or Burr?

But if you had to choose
[WOMEN]
Jefferson or Burr?
We know it’s lose-lose

Jefferson or Burr?
But if you had to choose

[EVEN MORE VOTERS]
Dear Mr. Hamilton:

John Adams doesn’t stand a chance so who are you promoting?
But if you had to choose

[MEN]
Jefferson or Burr?

We know it’s lose-lose
Jefferson or Burr?

But if you had to choose

[WOMEN]
Jefferson or Burr?
We know it’s lose-lose

Jefferson or Burr?
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]
Look
To be the president you have to be unprecedented


[HAMILTON]
Okay I guess but take your line of reasoning and extend it
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

[MADISON]
The votes are in
And I'll be damned

[JEFFERSON]
Well?

[MADISON]
The electoral college is a tie
Now it's up to the Federalist delegates that Hamilton has in his pocket
He could decide this election


[ENSEMBLE]
If you had to choose
If you had to choose

[HAMILTON]
Yo
I probably shouldn't be adding my voice
But the people are facing a difficult choice
And if you were to ask me who I'd prefer
Don't vote Burr
I have never agreed with Jefferson once
We've been fighting on like twenty five different fronts
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]
Well?

[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 is crazy that the man who comes in second gets to be Vice President

[JEFFERSON]
Yeah, you know what? We can change that. You know why?
cuz I’m the President

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    The Election of 1800 (2014 Workshop)
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