WEBVTT NOTE Paragraph 00:00:00.463 --> 00:00:02.853 (applause) 00:00:02.853 --> 00:00:07.583 Oh my god. I'm thrilled the White House 00:00:07.583 --> 00:00:13.023 called me tonight because I'm actually working on a hip-hop 00:00:13.023 --> 00:00:16.693 album. It's a concept album about the life of someone, 00:00:16.693 --> 00:00:20.353 I think embodies hip-hop, Treasury secretary Alexander Hamilton. 00:00:20.353 --> 00:00:21.228 (laughs) 00:00:21.228 --> 00:00:27.168 You laugh, but it's true. He was born a penniless orphan 00:00:27.168 --> 00:00:31.838 in St. Croix of illegitimate birth, became George Washington's 00:00:31.838 --> 00:00:36.208 right-hand man. Became treasury secretary. Caught beef with every 00:00:36.208 --> 00:00:40.088 other founding father and all on the strength of his writing. 00:00:40.088 --> 00:00:43.908 I think he embodies the words ability to make a difference. 00:00:43.908 --> 00:00:47.288 So I'm going to be doing the first song from that tonight. 00:00:47.288 --> 00:00:49.675 I'm accompanied by Tony and Grammy winning music director, 00:00:49.675 --> 00:00:50.945 Alex Lacamoire. 00:00:50.945 --> 00:00:52.545 (applause) 00:00:55.113 --> 00:00:58.043 Anything you need to know-- I'll be playing Vice President 00:00:58.043 --> 00:01:00.603 Aaron Burr and snap along if you like. 00:01:00.603 --> 00:01:02.743 (audience laughs) 00:01:04.251 --> 00:01:06.961 (piano plays) 00:01:06.964 --> 00:01:11.714 How does a bastard, orphan, son of a whore and a Scotsman 00:01:11.714 --> 00:01:14.894 dropped in the middle of a forgotten spot in the 00:01:14.894 --> 00:01:18.044 Caribbean by Providence, impoverished, in squalor, 00:01:18.044 --> 00:01:20.694 grow up to be a hero and a scholar? 00:01:20.694 --> 00:01:23.984 The $10, founding father without a father got a 00:01:23.984 --> 00:01:27.474 lot farther by working a lot harder by bein' a 00:01:27.474 --> 00:01:30.284 lot smarter, by bein' a self-starter. 00:01:30.284 --> 00:01:33.734 By 14, they placed him in charge of the tradin' charter. 00:01:33.734 --> 00:01:37.484 And every day while slaves were being slaughtered and carted away, 00:01:37.484 --> 00:01:40.474 across the waves, our Hamilton kept his guard up. 00:01:40.474 --> 00:01:44.834 Inside he was longing for something to be a part of. The brother was ready 00:01:44.834 --> 00:01:48.834 to beg, steal, borrow, or barter. Then a hurricane came and 00:01:48.834 --> 00:01:53.844 devastation reigned and our man saw his future drip drippin' down the drain. 00:01:53.844 --> 00:01:57.174 Put a pencil to his temple connected it to his brain 00:01:57.174 --> 00:02:00.694 and he wrote his first refrain, a testament to his pain. 00:02:00.694 --> 00:02:04.274 Well the word got around they said "this kid is insane, man!" 00:02:04.274 --> 00:02:07.507 Took up a collection just to send him to the main land. 00:02:07.507 --> 00:02:10.493 Get your education, don't forget from what you came. 00:02:10.493 --> 00:02:14.029 And the world is gonna know your name. What's your name man? 00:02:14.029 --> 00:02:15.679 Alexander Hamilton. 00:02:15.679 --> 00:02:16.665 (audience laughs) 00:02:16.665 --> 00:02:23.162 His name is Alexander Hamilton. And there's a million things he hasn't done 00:02:23.162 --> 00:02:26.470 But just you wait, just you wait 00:02:26.890 --> 00:02:30.400 When he was ten, his father split, full of it, debt-ridden 00:02:30.400 --> 00:02:34.635 Two years later, see Alex and his mother bed-ridden, half dead. 00:02:34.635 --> 00:02:37.439 Sittin' in their own sick, the scent thick. 00:02:37.439 --> 00:02:40.844 And Alex got better, but his mother went quick. 00:02:40.844 --> 00:02:44.257 Moved in with a cousin, the cousin committed suicide. 00:02:44.257 --> 00:02:48.428 Left 'em with nothin' but ruined pride. Somethin' new inside-- a voice sayin' 00:02:48.428 --> 00:02:50.298 "Alex you gotta fend for yourself" 00:02:50.298 --> 00:02:54.006 You started retreatin' and readin' every treatise on the shelf. 00:02:54.006 --> 00:02:56.762 Now wouldn't be nothin' left to do for someone less astute. 00:02:56.762 --> 00:03:00.212 He woulda been dead or destitute without a cent of restitution 00:03:00.212 --> 00:03:03.640 Started workin' Clerkin' for his late mother's landlord. 00:03:03.640 --> 00:03:06.812 Tradin' sugar cane, and rum, and all the things he can't afford. 00:03:06.812 --> 00:03:09.976 Scammin' for every book he can get his hands on 00:03:09.976 --> 00:03:11.923 Plannin' for the future, see him now 00:03:11.923 --> 00:03:14.518 as he stands on the bow of a ship 00:03:14.518 --> 00:03:19.444 headed for a new land. In New York you can be a new man. 00:03:19.444 --> 00:03:23.255 The ship is in the harbor now, see if you can spot 'em. 00:03:23.255 --> 00:03:26.095 Another immigrant comin' up from the bottom 00:03:26.095 --> 00:03:29.218 His enemies destroyed his rep' America forgot 'em 00:03:29.218 --> 00:03:32.746 And me, I'm the damn fool that shot 'em 00:03:32.746 --> 00:03:34.749 Alexander Hamilton 00:03:35.327 --> 00:03:40.447 We were waitin' in the weeds for you You could never back down, 00:03:40.447 --> 00:03:44.148 you always had to speak your mind. 00:03:45.277 --> 00:03:51.203 But Alexander Hamilton, we could never take your deeds from you. 00:03:51.651 --> 00:03:57.765 In our cowardness send our shame, we will try to destroy your name. 00:03:57.765 --> 00:04:06.837 The world will never be the same, Alexander! 00:04:08.260 --> 00:04:11.746 Yeah, I'm the damn genius that shot 'em. 00:04:13.039 --> 00:04:15.396 (audience cheering) 00:04:17.311 --> 00:04:18.575 Thank you.