Miranda wrote the music and lyrics for the musical In the Heights, which opened on Broadway at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in March 2008. Miranda's written work for the show earned him numerous accolades, including the 2008 Tony Award for Best Original Score and the 2009 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album. Further, Miranda's performance in the show's lead role of Usnavi earned him a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical.
From August 6th 2015 to July 9th 2016, Miranda performed on Broadway in the lead role as Alexander Hamilton in Hamilton, a musical for which he wrote the book, music and lyrics—and which earned the 2016 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album.
Miranda played his last performance in Hamilton on July 9, 2016, and the role of Alexander Hamilton was taken over by previous alternate Javier Muñoz. Miranda vowed to return to the show in the near future. In fact, he recently reprised his role as Alexander Hamilton in a special 23 performance three-week run in Puerto Rico January 11-27, 2019.
Lin-Manuel was born in New York City of Puerto Rican descent. He attended Hunter College High School and Wesleyan University. He founded a hip-hop theatre troupe called "Freestyle Love Supreme". Miranda also wrote, directed, and acted in an independent film called Clayton's Friends (1996). In 2007, Miranda made an appearance on an episode of television series The Sopranos. Lin-Manuel has also worked as an English teacher at his old high school, written for the Manhattan Times as a columnist and restaurant reviewer, and composed for commercials. In 2008, Lin-Manuel was invited by composer/lyricist Stephen Schwartz to contribute two new songs to a revised version of Schwartz and Nina Faso's 1978 musical "Working" which opened in May at the Asolo Repertory Theater in Sarasota, FL.
Miranda received his Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame November 30th 2018.
His awards include 3 Tony Awards, 5 Grammy Awards, 2 Laurence Olivier Awards, 2 Primetime Emmy Awards. an Annie Award, a MacArthur Fellowship Award, a Kennedy Centre Honor and a Pulitzer Prize
Yorktown
Lin-Manuel Miranda Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Monsieur Hamilton
Monsieur Lafayette
In command, where you belong
We're finally on the field
We've had quite a run
Immigrants
We get the job done
So what happens if we win?
I go back to France
I bring freedom to my people if I'm given the chance
We'll be with you when you do
Go lead your men
I'll see you on the other side
'Til we meet again, let's go
I am not throwin' away my shot
I am not throwin' away my shot
Hey yo, I'm just like my country, I'm young
Scrappy and hungry
And I'm not throwin' away my shot
I am not throwin' away my shot
'Til the world turns upside down
'Til the world turns upside down
I imagine death so much, it feels more like a memory
This is where it gets me, on my feet
The enemy ahead of me
If this is the end of me, at least I have a friend with me
Weapon in my hand, a command, and my men with me
Then I remember my Eliza's expecting me
Not only that, my Eliza's expecting
We gotta go, gotta get the job done
Gotta start a new nation, gotta meet my son
Take the bullets out your gun (what?)
The bullets out your gun (what?)
We move under cover and we move as one
Through the night, we have one shot to live another day
We cannot let a stray gunshot give us away
We will fight up close, seize the moment and stay in it
It's either that or meet the business end of a bayonet
The code word is 'Rochambeau,' dig me?
Rochambeau
You have your orders now, go, man, go
And so the American experiment begins
With my friends all scattered to the winds
Laurens is in South Carolina, redefining bravery
We'll never be free until we end slavery
When we finally drive the British away
Lafayette is there waiting
In Chesapeake Bay
How did we know that this plan would work?
We had a spy on the inside
That's right
Hercules Mulligan
A tailor spyin' on the British government
I take their measurements, information and then I smuggle it (up)
To my brother's revolutionary covenant
I'm runnin' with the Sons of Liberty and I am lovin' it
See, that's what happens when you up against them ruffians
We in the shit now, somebody's gotta shovel it
Hercules Mulligan, I need no introduction
When you knock me down, I get the fuck back up again (let's go, woo)
Left, right, hold
Go
What? What? What?
After a week of fighting, a young man in a red coat stands on a parapet
We lower our guns as he frantically waves a white handkerchief
And just like that, it's over
We tend to our wounded, we count our dead
Black and white soldiers wonder alike if this really means freedom
Not yet
We negotiate the terms of surrender
I see George Washington smile
We escort their men out of Yorktown
They stagger home single file
Tens of thousands of people flood the streets
There are screams and church bells ringing
And as our fallen foes retreat
I hear the drinking song they're singing
The world turned upside down
The world turned upside down
The world turned upside down
The world turned upside down, down
Down, down, down
Freedom for America, freedom for France
Down, down, down
Gotta start a new nation
Gotta meet my son
Down, down, down
We won
We won
We won
We won
The world turned upside down
The song Yorktown is part of the hit Broadway musical Hamilton, which is a retelling of the life of Alexander Hamilton. The song is the dramatic culmination of the Revolutionary War, specifically the siege of Yorktown in 1781. Monsieur Hamilton and Monsieur Lafayette are both commanders of the American army, and they are discussing their plans for the upcoming battle. Lafayette, who is French, reassures Hamilton that they will be successful, reminding him that they are "Immigrants" who always "get the job done." Lafayette also mentions that if they win, he will go back to France and bring freedom to his people if he is given the chance.
Hamilton then leads his men into battle with determination, stating that he is "not throwin' away my shot" and that he is "just like my country, I'm young, scrappy and hungry." In a moment of reflection, Hamilton thinks about his wife Eliza, who is expecting their child, and how he must survive the battle in order to see them again. The soldiers then charge forward into battle under the command of Hamilton, their weapons ready, as they try to live to see "another day."
After a week of fighting, the British army surrenders, and George Washington smiles as the soldiers escort the enemy out of Yorktown. The people flood the streets in celebration and the song ends with the line "The world turned upside down" repeated several times. This line refers to the impact of the victory on the world order and the hopes of the American people for their new nation.
Overall, the song captures the bravery and determination of the soldiers who fought in the revolutionary war, the exhilaration of victory, and the hope for a new nation.
Line by Line Meaning
Monsieur Hamilton
Hamilton is present
Monsieur Lafayette
Lafayette is present
In command, where you belong
Hamilton and Lafayette are commanders, where they belong
How you say, no sweat
It will be an easy battle
We're finally on the field
The battle is starting
We've had quite a run
It has been a long journey to get to this point
Immigrants
Hamilton and Lafayette are both immigrants
We get the job done
Immigrants are successful
So what happens if we win?
Thinking of the possible outcome of the battle
I go back to France
Lafayette will return to France
I bring freedom to my people if I'm given the chance
Lafayette will work for freedom in France
We'll be with you when you do
Hamilton and his men will be with Lafayette in spirit when he fights for freedom in France
Go lead your men
Lafayette is encouraged to lead his men
I'll see you on the other side
Hamilton expects to meet Lafayette after the battle
'Til we meet again, let's go
Goodbye for now, let's start the battle
I am not throwin' away my shot
I am not wasting my opportunity
Hey yo, I'm just like my country, I'm young
Scrappy and hungry
And I'm not throwin' away my shot
Hamilton is young, determined, and will not waste his opportunity
'Til the world turns upside down
Until a significant change in the world occurs
I imagine death so much, it feels more like a memory
This is where it gets me, on my feet
The enemy ahead of me
If this is the end of me, at least I have a friend with me
Weapon in my hand, a command, and my men with me
Then I remember my Eliza's expecting me
Not only that, my Eliza's expecting
We gotta go, gotta get the job done
Gotta start a new nation, gotta meet my son
Hamilton imagines his own death, but is motivated by his determination and the support of his friend and wife, and his responsibility as a father
Take the bullets out your gun (what?)
The bullets out your gun (what?)
We move under cover and we move as one
Through the night, we have one shot to live another day
We cannot let a stray gunshot give us away
We will fight up close, seize the moment and stay in it
It's either that or meet the business end of a bayonet
The code word is 'Rochambeau,' dig me?
Planning military tactics to ensure survival and victory
Rochambeau
Using a code word to communicate
You have your orders now, go, man, go
Orders are given to carry out the plan
And so the American experiment begins
With my friends all scattered to the winds
Laurens is in South Carolina, redefining bravery
We'll never be free until we end slavery
When we finally drive the British away
Lafayette is there waiting
In Chesapeake Bay
How did we know that this plan would work?
We had a spy on the inside
That's right
Reflecting on how the American Revolution started with the creation of a plan and support from friends with the end goal of freedom from slavery and British rule, and the use of a spy for success
Hercules Mulligan
A tailor spyin' on the British government
I take their measurements, information and then I smuggle it (up)
To my brother's revolutionary covenant
I'm runnin' with the Sons of Liberty and I am lovin' it
See, that's what happens when you up against them ruffians
We in the shit now, somebody's gotta shovel it
Hercules Mulligan, I need no introduction
When you knock me down, I get the fuck back up again (let's go, woo)
Hercules Mulligan is a tailor spy who smuggles information for the revolutionary cause, and highlights the challenges of being in this fight
Left, right, hold
Go
What? What? What?
Commands given for military movements
After a week of fighting, a young man in a red coat stands on a parapet
We lower our guns as he frantically waves a white handkerchief
And just like that, it's over
We tend to our wounded, we count our dead
Black and white soldiers wonder alike if this really means freedom
Not yet
The end of the battle is signaled by a surrender, yet there are still doubts about true freedom
We negotiate the terms of surrender
I see George Washington smile
We escort their men out of Yorktown
They stagger home single file
Tens of thousands of people flood the streets
There are screams and church bells ringing
And as our fallen foes retreat
I hear the drinking song they're singing
After the battle, terms of surrender are negotiated and there is celebration
The world turned upside down
The world turned upside down
The world turned upside down
The world turned upside down, down
Down, down, down
The change in the world as a result of the American Revolution
Freedom for America, freedom for France
Gotta start a new nation
Gotta meet my son
We won
We won
We won
We won
The world turned upside down
Celebrating the victory of the battle and looking towards the future for America and France
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Lin-Manuel Miranda
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind