Helpless
Original Broadway Cast of Hamilton & Phillipa Soo Lyrics

Hey hey hey hey (ohh, I do I do I do I)
Excitement and anticipation as she realizes the effect the boy has on her

Boy you got me
The boy has captured her heart

Helpless
She feels powerless to resist the boy's charms

Look into your eyes, and the sky's the limit I'm helpless
The boy has lifted her up and anything seems possible

Down for the count, and I'm drownin' in 'em
She is completely overwhelmed by her feelings for him

I have never been the type to try and grab the spotlight
She is usually reserved and doesn't seek attention

We were at a revel with some rebels on a hot night
She was at a party with rebellious friends on a warm evening

Laughin' at my sister as she's dazzling the room
She is amused by her sister's attention-grabbing behavior

Then you walked in and my heart went boom
The boy's arrival has an immediate and intense impact on her

Tryin' to catch your eye from the side of the ballroom
She is attempting to get his attention from across the room

Everybody's dancin' and the band's top volume
The party is in full swing, with lots of dancing and loud music

Grind to the rhythm as we wine and dine
They dance and enjoy drinks and food together

Grab my sister, and Whisper, yo, this one's mine
He tells her that he wants to be with her, not her sister

My sister made her way across the room to you (ooh)
Her sister approaches the boy and begins talking to him

And I got nervous, thinking what's she gonna do? (ooh)
She is worried about how her sister's interaction with the boy will affect her own chances

She grabbed you by the arm, I'm thinkin' I'm through (ooh)
She fears that her sister is stealing the boy away from her

Then you look back at me and suddenly I'm (ooh) Helpless
But the boy turns his attention back to her, making her feel powerless to resist him

Oh, look at those eyes
She is struck by the boy's captivating eyes

Where are you taking me?
She is curious where the boy is leading her

I'm about to change your life
He promises that being with him will transform her life

Elizabeth Schuyler / It's a pleasure to meet you / Schuyler?
They introduce themselves and confirm that Eliza is related to her sister

My sister / Thank you for all your service
He thanks her sister for her assistance, possibly in introducing him to Eliza

If it takes fighting a war for us to meet, it will have been worth it
He suggests that he would go to great lengths to be with her, even fighting in a war

One week later
The song jumps forward in time

I'm writin' a letter nightly / Now my life gets better, every letter that you write me
He is writing letters to her every night, and his life improves with each one that she sends in return

Laughin' at my sister, 'cause she wants to form a harem / I'm just sayin', if you really loved me, you would share him
He jokes about her sister wanting to be with him too, but suggests that he belongs to Eliza alone

Two weeks later / In the living room stressin'
The song jumps forward in time again, and she is anxious in the living room

My father's stone-faced / While you're asking for his blessin'
Her father is serious and unemotional as the boy asks for his approval

I'm dying inside, as / You wine / And dine / And I'm tryin' not to cry
She is upset and trying to hold back her tears as the boy tries to charm her father

My father makes his way across the room / To you (ooh) / I panic for a second, thinking / We're through (ooh) / But then he shakes your hand and says / Be true (ooh) / And you turn back to me, smiling, and I'm / Helpless
Her father approaches the boy, and she fears that her relationship is over. But her father gives his blessing and the boy turns back to her, making her feel powerless to resist him again

Eliza, I don't have a dollar to my name
He reveals that he is poor

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
Despite his lack of wealth or possessions, he has pride in his values, intelligence, and strength of character. He suggests that being with her family has transformed him

Peggy confides in me, Angelica tried to take a bite of me
He jokes about her sisters being interested in him too

No stress, my love for you is never in doubt / We'll get a little place in Harlem and we'll figure it out
He assures her that he loves her and they will find a way to make their future together work

I've been livin' without a family since I was a child / My father left, my mother died, I grew up buckwild / But I'll never forget my mother's face, that was real / And long as I'm alive, Eliza, swear to God / You'll never feel so
He reveals his troubled past, but promises to always be there for her and make her feel loved

My life is gon' be fine 'cause Eliza's in it
She is the source of his happiness and hope for the future

In New York, you can be a new man
New York represents a fresh start, and he can become a better person there

Helpless
The song ends with her still feeling powerless to resist him