Lyrics of 'Cabinet Battle #1' by Hamilton: An American Musical

[George Washington]
Ladies and gentlemen
You coulda been anywhere in the world tonight
But you're here with us in New York City
Are you ready for a cabinet meeting?

The issue on the table
Secretary Hamilton's plan
To assume state debt
And establish a national bank
Secretary Jefferson, you have the floor, sir

[Thomas Jefferson]
Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness
We fought for these ideals
We shouldn't settle for less
These are wise words
Enterprising men quote 'em
Don't act surprised, you guys, 'cause I wrote 'em

Oww

But Hamilton forgets
His plan would have the government assume state's debts
Now, place your bets as to who that benefits
The very seat of government where Hamilton sits

[Hamilton]
Not true!

[Thomas Jefferson]
Ooh, if the shoe fits, wear it
If New York's in debt
Why should Virginia bear it?
Uh! Our debts are paid, I'm afraid
Don't tax the South
'cause we got it made in the shade
In Virginia, we plant seeds in the ground
We create. You just wanna move our money around
This financial plan is an outrageous demand
And it's too many damn pages
For any man to understand
Stand with me in the land of the free
And pray to God we never see Hamilton's candidacy
Look, when Britain taxed our tea
We got frisky
Imagine what gon' happen
When you try to tax our whisky

[George Washington]
Thank you, Secretary Jefferson
Secretary Hamilton
Your response

[Hamilton]
Thomas, that was a real nice declaration
Welcome to the present
We're running a real nation
Would you like to join us, or stay mellow
Doin' whatever the hell it is you do in Monticello?
If we assume the debts, the Union gets
A new line of credit, a financial diuretic
How do you not get it?
If we're aggressive and competitive
The union gets a boost, you'd rather give it a sedative?
A civics lesson from a slaver, hey neighbor
Your debts are paid
'cause you don't pay for labor
We plant seeds in the South, we create
Yeah, keep ranting
We know who's really doing the planting
And another thing, Mr. Age of Enlightenment
Don't lecture me about the war, you didn't fight in it
You think I'm frightened of you, man?
We almost died in a trench
While you were off
Getting high with the French
Thomas Jefferson, always hesitant with the President
Reticent, there isn't a plan he doesn't jettison
Madison, you're mad as a hatter
Son, take your medicine
Damn, you're in worse shape
Than the national debt is in
Sittin' there useless as two shits
Hey, turn around, bend over, I'll show you
Where my shoe fits

[George Washington]
Excuse me? Madison, Jefferson, take a walk!
Hamilton, take a walk!
We'll reconvene after a brief recess
Hamilton!

[Hamilton]
Sir!

[George Washington]
A word

[Thomas Madison]
You don't have the votes

(Thomas Jefferson & Thomas Madison]
You don't have the votes

[Thomas Jefferson]
Aha-ha-ha ha!

(Thomas Jefferson & Thomas Madison]
You're gonna need congressional approval
And you don't have the votes

[Thomas Jefferson]
Such a blunder sometimes
It makes me wonder why I even bring the thunder

[Thomas Madison]
Why he even brings the thunder

[Hamilton]
You wanna pull yourself together?

I'm sorry, these Virginians are birds of a feather

[George Washington]
Young man, I'm from Virginia
So watch your mouth

[Hamilton]
So we let Congress get held hostage by the South?

[George Washington]
You need the votes

[Hamilton]
No, we need bold strokes
We need this plan

[George Washington]
No, you need to convince more folks

[Hamilton]
James Madison won't talk to me, that's a nonstarter

[George Washington]
Winning was easy, young man, governing's harder

[Hamilton]
They're being intransigent

[George Washington]
You have to find a compromise

[Hamilton]
But they don't have a plan, they just hate mine!

[George Washington]
Convince them otherwise

[Hamilton]
What happens if I don't get
Congressional approval?

[George Washington]
I imagine they'll call for your removal

[Hamilton]
Sir

[George Washington]
Figure it out, Alexander
That's an order from your commander