My Shot
Lin-Manuel Miranda Lyrics

I am not throwin' away my shot
I refuse to pass up this opportunity

Hey yo, I'm just like my country
I embody the same traits as my nation

I'm young, scrappy and hungry
I am ambitious, determined, and eager for success

And I'm not throwin' away my shot
And I will not let this opportunity slip away

I'ma get a scholarship to King's College
I will earn a scholarship to attend King's College

I probably shouldn't brag, but dang, I amaze and astonish
I may be boasting, but I truly impress and astound

The problem is I got a lot of brains but no polish
The issue is that I have intelligence but lack refinement

I gotta holler just to be heard
I have to shout to make my voice heard

With every word, I drop knowledge
Every word I speak contains wisdom

I'm a diamond in the rough, a shiny piece of coal
I am a valuable and rare gem despite my current rough state

Tryna reach my goal my power of speech, unimpeachable
I strive to achieve my goal with my undeniable and flawless speaking abilities

Only nineteen but my mind is older
Despite being young, I possess maturity beyond my years

These New York City streets get colder, I shoulder
The streets of New York City become harsher, but I bear the burden

Every burden, every disadvantage
I face all hardships and setbacks

I have learned to manage, I don't have a gun to brandish
I have adapted and overcome without resorting to violence

I walk these streets famished
I navigate these streets hungry for success

The plan is to fan this spark into a flame
The goal is to ignite this small spark into a powerful, burning passion

But damn, it's getting dark, so let me spell out my name
But it's becoming challenging, so I will make my mark and establish my identity

I am the A-L-E-X-A-N-D-E-R we are meant to be
I am Alexander, and we are destined for greatness

A colony that runs independently
A territory that governs itself autonomously

Meanwhile, Britain keeps shittin' on us endlessly
Meanwhile, Britain continues to mistreat us without end

Essentially, they tax us relentlessly
In essence, they impose excessive taxes on us constantly

Then King George turns around, runs a spendin' spree
Then King George wastes money lavishly

He ain't ever gonna set his descendants free
He will never grant freedom to future generations

So there will be a revolution in this century
Therefore, a revolution will occur in this era

Enter me (he says in parentheses)
I step into the picture (as he adds in parentheses)

Don't be shocked when your history book mentions me
Do not be surprised when my name appears in your history book

I will lay down my life if it sets us free
I am willing to sacrifice my life for our freedom

Eventually, you'll see my ascendancy
In due time, you will witness my rise to power

I dream of life without a monarchy
I envision a life without a ruling monarchy

The unrest in France will lead to anarchy?
Will the chaos in France result in anarchy?

When I fight, I make the other side panicky
When I engage in battle, I cause fear and panic in the opposition

I'm a tailor's apprentice
I am an apprentice to a tailor

And I got y'all knuckleheads in loco parentis (loco parentis)
And I am responsible for you foolish individuals in loco parentis (in place of a parent)

I'm joining the rebellion 'cause I know it's my chance
I am joining the rebellion because I recognize it as my opportunity

To socially advance, instead of sewin' some pants (woo)
To progress socially, rather than just sewing clothes

Foes oppose us, we take an honest stand
Our enemies confront us, but we stand firm in our beliefs

We roll like Moses, claimin' our promised land
We proceed forward like Moses, reclaiming the land we were promised

And? If we win our independence?
And what if we achieve our independence?

Is that a guarantee of freedom for our descendants?
Does that ensure freedom for future generations?

Or will the blood we shed begin an endless cycle of vengeance and death with no defendants?
Or will the violence we endure initiate an unending cycle of revenge and death without any resolution?

I know the action in the street is excitin'
I understand that the street's activities are thrilling

But Jesus, between all the bleedin' 'n' fightin'
Goodness, amidst all the bloodshed and fighting

I've been readin' 'n' writin'
I have been reading and writing

We need to handle our financial situation
We must address our financial circumstances

Are we a nation of states? What's the state of our nation?
Are we a collection of individual states? What is the condition of our nation?

I'm past patiently waitin' I'm passionately mashin' every expectation
I am no longer waiting patiently; I am eagerly defying all expectations

Every action's an act of creation
Every move I make is an opportunity to create

I'm laughin' in the face of casualties and sorrow
I am mocking the consequences and sadness that come with this fight

For the first time, I'm thinkin' past tomorrow
For the first time, I am looking beyond the immediate future

Rise up
Stand up and fight

When you're living on your knees, you rise up
When you are oppressed and subservient, you must rise up

Tell your brother that he's gotta rise up
Inform your fellow comrades that they must stand up

Tell your sister that she's gotta rise up
Notify your female companions that they must rise up

When are these colonies gonna rise up?
When will these colonies rebel and fight back?

I imagine death so much it feels more like a memory
I think about death so frequently that it seems like a familiar recollection

When's it gonna get me?
When will death come for me?

In my sleep, seven feet ahead of me?
Will I die peacefully, seven feet underground?

If I see it comin', do I run or do I let it be?
If I anticipate death, should I flee or accept it?

Is it like a beat without a melody?
Is death like a rhythm devoid of harmony?

See, I never thought I'd live past twenty
You see, I never believed I would survive beyond the age of twenty

Where I come from, some get half as many
In my origins, some individuals only live half as long

Ask anybody why we livin' fast and we laugh, reach for a flask
Ask anyone why we live recklessly and extravagantly, and we respond with laughter, grabbing a drink

We have to make this moment last, that's plenty
We must prolong and savor this time, as it is more than enough

Scratch that this is not a moment, it's the movement
Forget that; this is not just a brief moment, but rather a widespread movement

Where all the hungriest brothers with something to prove went?
Where did all the ambitious and determined individuals with something to prove go?

Foes oppose us, we take an honest stand
Our enemies confront us, but we take a principled stance

We roll like Moses, claimin' our promised land
We move forward like Moses, reclaiming the land we were promised

And? If we win our independence?
And what if we achieve our independence?

Is that a guarantee of freedom for our descendants?
Does that ensure freedom for future generations?

Or will the blood we shed begin an endless cycle of vengeance and death with no defendants?
Or will the violence we endure initiate an unending cycle of revenge and death without any resolution?

I know the action in the street is excitin'
I understand that the street's activities are thrilling

But Jesus, between all the bleedin' 'n' fightin'
Goodness, amidst all the bloodshed and fighting

I've been readin' 'n' writin'
I have been reading and writing

We need to handle our financial situation
We must address our financial circumstances

Are we a nation of states? What's the state of our nation?
Are we a collection of individual states? What is the condition of our nation?

I'm past patiently waitin' I'm passionately mashin' every expectation
I am no longer waiting patiently; I am eagerly defying all expectations

Every action's an act of creation
Every move I make is an opportunity to create

I'm laughin' in the face of casualties and sorrow
I am mocking the consequences and sadness that come with this fight

For the first time, I'm thinkin' past tomorrow
For the first time, I am looking beyond the immediate future

Rise up
Stand up and fight

When you're living on your knees, you rise up
When you are oppressed and subservient, you must rise up

Tell your brother that he's gotta rise up
Inform your fellow comrades that they must stand up

Tell your sister that she's gotta rise up
Notify your female companions that they must rise up

When are these colonies gonna rise up?
When will these colonies rebel and fight back?

I imagine death so much it feels more like a memory
I think about death so frequently that it seems like a familiar recollection

When's it gonna get me?
When will death come for me?

In my sleep, seven feet ahead of me?
Will I die peacefully, seven feet underground?

If I see it comin', do I run or do I let it be?
If I anticipate death, should I flee or accept it?

Is it like a beat without a melody?
Is death like a rhythm devoid of harmony?

See, I never thought I'd live past twenty
You see, I never believed I would survive beyond the age of twenty

Where I come from, some get half as many
In my origins, some individuals only live half as long

Ask anybody why we livin' fast and we laugh, reach for a flask
Ask anyone why we live recklessly and extravagantly, and we respond with laughter, grabbing a drink

We have to make this moment last, that's plenty
We must prolong and savor this time, as it is more than enough

Scratch that this is not a moment, it's the movement
Forget that; this is not just a brief moment, but rather a widespread movement

Where all the hungriest brothers with something to prove went?
Where did all the ambitious and determined individuals with something to prove go?

Poppin' a squat on conventional wisdom, like it or not
Ignoring traditional beliefs and expectations, whether others like it or not

A bunch of revolutionary manumission abolitionists?
A group of individuals fighting for the emancipation and abolition of slavery?

Give me a position, show me where the ammunition is
Give me a role, guide me to where the resources for this fight are

Oh, am I talkin' too loud?
Oh, am I speaking too loudly?

Sometimes I get over excited, shoot off at the mouth
At times, I become overly enthusiastic and speak impulsively

I never had a group of friends before
I have never had a supportive circle of friends before

I promise that I'll make y'all proud
I assure you that I will make all of you proud

Let's get this guy in front of a crowd
Let's present this person to a larger audience

Everybody sing
Everyone, start singing

Should let 'em hear ya
You should let them hear you

Rise up
Stand up and fight

Whoa, whoa, whoa
Expressing excitement or astonishment

Ayy, whoa (woo), whoa
Expressing excitement or astonishment

Said, to the rooftops
Proclaiming it to the world

A-come on
Come on, let's go

Rise up
Stand up and fight

Whoa, whoa, whoa
Expressing excitement or astonishment

Said, to the rooftops
Proclaiming it to the world

A-come on, let's go
Come on, let's go

I am not throwin' away my shot
I refuse to pass up this opportunity

We're gonna rise up
We will emerge victorious

I am not throwin' away my shot (time to take a shot)
I will not let this opportunity slip away (it's time to take action)

We're gonna rise up
We will emerge victorious

I am not throwin' away my shot (time to take a shot)
I will not let this opportunity slip away (it's time to take action)

We're gonna, rise up, rise up
We will rise up and overcome

It's time to take a shot
It's time to seize the opportunity

Rise up
Stand up and fight

Rise up
Stand up and fight

It's time to take a shot
It's time to seize the opportunity

Rise up, it's time to take a shot
Stand up and fight, it's time to seize the opportunity

Rise up, take a shot, shot, shot
Stand up and fight, take action, don't hesitate

Ay, yo, it's time to take a shot, time to take a shot
Hey, it's time to seize the opportunity, time to seize the opportunity

And I am not throwin' away my
And I will not let go of my

Not throwin' away my shot
Opportunity