Right Hand Man
Lin-Manuel Miranda Lyrics

British Admiral Howe's got troops on the water
Admiral Howe of Britain has troops stationed at sea.

Thirty-two thousand troops in New York harbor
There are 32,000 British troops in the New York harbor.

When they surround our troops
The British soldiers surround our troops.

They surround our troops
The British soldiers have surrounded our troops.

As a kid in the Caribbean I wished for a war
As a child in the Caribbean, I wanted a war to fight in.

I knew that I was poor
I was aware of my poverty at a young age.

I knew it was the only way to Rise up
I knew that going to war was the only way to advance in life.

If they tell my story I am either gonna die on the battlefield in glory or We will fight for this land But there's only one man Who can give us a command so we can Understand? It's the only way to
If my story is told, it will either be that I died on the battlefields with honor or that I fought for this land. We need a leader to give us commands so we can fight effectively.

Here he comes
A leader is approaching.

Here comes the general
Here comes George Washington, the general.

Ladies and gentlemen The moment you've been waiting for The pride of Mount Vernon George Washington
The moment everyone has been waiting for is the arrival of George Washington, who is highly respected as a leader.

We are outgunned (what?) Outmanned (what?) Outnumbered Outplanned (buck, buck, buck, buck, buck) We gotta make an all out stand Ayo, I'm gonna need a right-hand man (buck, buck, buck, buck, buck)
We are at a disadvantage in terms of weapons, soldiers, numbers, and strategy. We must make a stand against the British army. I will need a trustworthy and competent right-hand man to assist me.

Can I be real a second? For just a millisecond? Let down my guard and tell the people how I feel a second? Now I'm the model of a modern major general The venerated Virginian veteran whose men are all Lining up, to put me up on a pedestal Writin' letters to relatives Embellishin' my elegance and eloquence But the elephant is in the room The truth is in ya face when ya hear the British cannons go Boom
Can I be honest for a moment? I have been portrayed as a great leader, but I am not sure if I can handle the pressure of the current situation. I am being glorified by my men and family, but the reality of facing the British army is overwhelming.

Any hope of success is fleeting How can I keep leading when the people I'm Leading keep retreating?
The chance of winning seems unlikely, and it is hard to lead when my soldiers are constantly retreating.

We put a stop to the bleeding as the British take Brooklyn Knight takes rook, but look Outnumbered Ayo, I'm gonna need a right-hand man (buck, buck, buck, buck, buck)
We managed to slow down the British in Brooklyn, but we are still outnumbered and need a trustworthy person to assist me.

Incoming They're battering down the Battery check the damages Rah We gotta stop 'em and rob 'em of their advantages Let's take a stand with the stamina God has granted us Hamilton won't abandon ship Yo, let's steal their cannons Shh-boom Goes the cannon, watch the blood and the shit spray and Goes the cannon, we're abandonin' Kips Bay and There's another ship and We just lost the southern tip and We gotta run to Harlem quick, we can't afford another slip Guns and horses giddyup I decide to divvy up My forces, they're skittish as the British cut the city up
The British are attacking fiercely, and we must stop them from gaining any more advantages. We need to use what stamina we have to defeat them. Let's steal their cannons! The situation is dire, and we cannot afford another loss. I will divide my forces and try to fend off the British.

This close to giving up, facing mad scrutiny I scream in the face of this mass mutiny Are these the men with which I am to defend America? We ride at midnight, Manhattan in the distance I cannot be everywhere at once, people I'm in dire need of assistance
The situation is so difficult that I almost want to give up. The soldiers are rebelling against me, and I don't know if I can rely on them to defend America. We are on our way to Manhattan, but I can't be everywhere at once. I need help.

Your excellency, sir Who are you? Aaron Burr, Sir? Permission to state my case? As you were Sir I was a captain under General Montgomery Until he caught a bullet in the neck in Quebec And well, in summary I think that I could be of some assistance I admire how you keep firing on the British From a distance Huh
I am Aaron Burr, and I would like to offer my assistance. I was a captain under General Montgomery before he died. I think I could be of help. I respect how you are fighting on, even from afar.

I have some questions, a couple of suggestions on how to fight instead of fleeing west Yes?
I have some ideas on how to fight instead of retreating westward.

Well Your excellency, you wanted to see me? Hamilton, come in, have you met Burr? Yes, sir We keep meeting As I was saying, sir, I look forward to seeing your strategy play out Burr? Sir? Close the door on your way out Have I done something wrong, sir? On the contrary I called you here because our odds are beyond scary
Hamilton and Burr meet as Hamilton enters the room. Hamilton is dismissed after Burr leaves. The odds of victory are slim, and Hamilton is called in to help.

Your reputation precedes you, but I have to laugh Hamilton, how come no one can get you on their staff? Don't get me wrong, you're a young man, of great renown I know you stole British cannons when we were still downtown Nathaniel Green and Henry Knox wanted to hire you To be their Secretary? I don't think so Why're you upset? I'm not It's alright, you want to fight, you've got a hunger I was just like you when I was younger Head full of fantasies of dyin' like a martyr? Yes
Hamilton's reputation precedes him, and he is known for his actions. Washington jokes about how he is hard to get on staff. Washington mentions Hamilton's previous action, including stealing British cannons. Hamilton is not upset. Washington relates to Hamilton and remembers what it was like to be young and full of ambition. Hamilton confirms he fantasized about dying as a martyr.

Dying is easy, young man Living is harder Why are you telling me this? I'm being honest I'm working with a third of what our Congress has promised We are a powder keg about to explode I need someone like you to lighten the load So? I am not throwin' away my shot
Dying is easy, but living is hard. Washington is being honest about the difficulties of the situation and the limited resources they have. He needs someone like Hamilton to help him. Hamilton is willing to help and will not waste his opportunity.

Ayo, I'm just like my country, I'm young Scrappy and hungry I am not throwing away my shot
Hamilton is just like his country - young and eager. He will not waste his opportunity to help.

Son We are outgunned, outmanned You need all the help you can get I have some friends, Laurens, Mulligan Marquis de Lafayette, okay, what else?
Washington addresses Hamilton as son and acknowledges that they need more help. He mentions some friends who can help, including Laurens, Mulligan, and Marquis de Lafayette. Washington is open to hearing more suggestions from Hamilton.

Outnumbered, outplanned We'll need some spies on the inside Some King's men who might let some things slide I'll write to Congress and tell 'em we need supplies You rally the guys, master the element of surprise I'll rise above my station, organize your information 'Til we rise to the occasion of our new nation, sir And his right-hand man
The situation is dire and they are outnumbered and outplanned. They need spies on the inside to gain information and possibly get some help from the British. Washington will write to Congress for supplies, and Hamilton will rally the soldiers and use the element of surprise to their advantage. Washington will organize the information they have and work to create a new nation, with Hamilton as his trusted right-hand man.