Yorktown
Lin-Manuel Miranda Lyrics


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The battle of Yorktown, 1781

Monsieur Hamilton

Monsieur Lafayette

In command, where you belong
How you say, no sweat
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

Overall Meaning

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
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