Helpless
Lin-Manuel Miranda Lyrics

Hey hey hey hey (ohh, I do I do I do I)
Excitedly expressing the feeling of love and infatuation

Boy you got me
Feeling powerless under the influence of love

Helpless
Overwhelmed by the strength of emotions and love

Look into your eyes, and the sky's the limit I'm helpless
Being completely mesmerized and lost in the eyes of the person you love

Down for the count, and I'm drownin' in 'em
Being completely consumed and lost in the power of love

I have never been the type to try and grab the spotlight
Acknowledging not being the center of attention in social gatherings

We were at a revel with some rebels on a hot night
Describing the setting of a party during a warm evening among people with rebellious attitudes

Laughin' at my sister as she's dazzling the room
Watching his sister be a captivating presence in the party

Then you walked in and my heart went boom
Describing the moment when he first saw the person he fell in love with

Tryin' to catch your eye from the side of the ballroom
Attempting to get the attention of the person he loves

Everybody's dancin' and the band's top volume
Describing the lively atmosphere in the party

Grind to the rhythm as we wine and dine
Enjoying the company and the party vibes with beverages and food

Grab my sister, and Whisper, yo, this one's mine
Informing his sister that he plans on pursuing the person he is in love with

My sister made her way across the room to you (ooh)
Describing the moment his sister approached the person he is in love with

And I got nervous, thinking what's she gonna do? (ooh)
Feeling anxious about his sister's intentions with the person he is in love with

She grabbed you by the arm, I'm thinkin' I'm through (ooh)
Feeling defeated when his sister physically engaged with the person he is in love with

Then you look back at me and suddenly I'm (ooh) Helpless
Feeling helpless when the person he is in love with looks back at him

Oh, look at those eyes
Being completely captivated by the eyes of the person he loves

Where are you taking me?
Excitedly asking the person he is in love with where they are going

I'm about to change your life
Promising to positively impact and improve the life of the person he loves

Then by all means, lead the way
Giving the person he loves the power to lead in their relationship

It's a pleasure to meet you
Politely greeting the person he is in love with

My sister
Informing the person he is in love with that the lady he arrived with is his sister

Thank you for all your service
Politely thanking the person he is in love with for their service or actions

If it takes fighting a war for us to meet, it will have been worth it
Expressing the sentiment that it doesn't matter what one has to go through to find true love

I'll leave you to it
Politely excusing himself from the conversation between the two lovers

I'm writin' a letter nightly
Describing the habit of writing letters to the person he loves every night

Now my life gets better, every letter that you write me
Feeling that his life gets better with every letter that he receives from the person he loves

Laughin' at my sister, 'cause she wants to form a harem
Making a joke about his sister wanting to form a group of lovers

I'm just sayin', if you really loved me, you would share him
Jokingly asking the person he loves to share him with his sister

In the living room stressin'
Feeling anxious in the living room

My father's stone-faced
Describing his father's expression as emotionless and serious

While you're asking for his blessin'
Asking his father for permission to marry the person he is in love with

I'm dying inside, as
Feeling internal pain or discomfort amidst the stressful situation

You wine and dine
Eating and drinking with the person he is in love with during the proposal

And I'm tryin' not to cry
Suppressing the urge to cry during the proposal

'Cause there's nothing that your mind can't do
Being in awe of the person he is in love with and acknowledging their intelligence and capabilities

My father makes his way across the room To you (ooh)
Describing the moment when his father approached the person he is in love with

I panic for a second, thinking We're through (ooh)
Feeling momentarily stressed that the proposal may not go as planned

But then he shakes your hand and says Be true (ooh)
His father gives his blessing and tells the person he is in love with to be honest and faithful

And you turn back to me, smiling, and I'm Helpless
Feeling helpless in the face of overwhelming love when the person he is in love with looks back with a smile

Eliza, I don't have a dollar to my name An acre of land, a troop to command, a dollop of fame All I have's my honor, a tolerance for pain A couple of college credits and my top-notch brain Insane, your family brings out a different side of me Peggy confides in me, Angelica tried to take a bite of me
Listing factors including his lack of resources and education, but insisting his integrity, mental capability, and ability to endure strain, while also acknowledging the interesting dynamics of his relationship with Eliza's family members

No stress, my love for you is never in doubt We'll get a little place in Harlem and we'll figure it out
Assuring the person he loves that he is committed to her and making plans to live together in Harlem

I've been livin' without a family since I was a child My father left, my mother died, I grew up buckwild
Revealing the difficulties he faced growing up without parents or stable family relationships

But I'll never forget my mother's face, that was real
Remembering his mother's face as a tangible and sincere memory

And long as I'm alive, Eliza, swear to God You'll never feel so
Making a promise to always be there for Eliza and never let her feel alone or unsupported

Eliza I've never felt so
Expressing love and genuine appreciation for Eliza

My life is gon' be fine 'cause Eliza's in it
Believing that his life will be good because of Eliza's presence in it

In New York, you can be a new man
Making note of the opportunities and transformative power that living in New York presents

Helpless
Recapping the overwhelming feeling of love and helplessness throughout the song