After graduating from Juilliard in 2012, Soo was cast as Natasha Rostova in the Ars Nova production of Dave Malloy's Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, based on Leo Tolstoy's War & Peace; the show went on to transfer Off-Broadway to Kazino, a tent custom built for the show.
In 2013 she was cast in a small recurring role in the NBC television series Smash as the character Lexi. She appeared in five episodes in the second season before the show's cancellation.
After seeing her in Great Comet, director Thomas Kail and composer Lin-Manuel Miranda asked her to take part in an early 2014 reading of the musical Hamilton, where she read as the leading female role, Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton. Soo remained with the show through its Off-Broadway and Broadway debuts. She left the show on July 9th 2016 to reprise a previous role in Amelie.
Helpless
Phillipa Soo Lyrics
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I do, I do (hey, hey, hey)
Hey (hey, hey, hey)
Ooh, I do, I do (hey, hey, hey)
I do, I do (hey, hey, hey, hey)
Boy, you got me helpless
Look into your eyes and the sky's the limit
I'm helpless
I have never been the type to try and grab the spotlight
We were at a revel with some rebels on a hot night
Laughin' at my sister as she's dazzling the room
Then you walked in and my heart went boom
Tryin' to catch your eye from the side of the ballroom
Everybody's dancin' and the band's top volume
Grind to the rhythm as we wine and dine
Grab my sister, and whisper
Yo, this one's mine
(Ooh) my sister made her way across the room to you
And I got nervous, thinking, what's she gonna do? (Ooh)
She grabs you by the arm, I'm thinkin', I'm through (ooh)
Then you look back at me and suddenly I'm helpless
Oh, look at those eyes, oh (look into your eyes and the sky's the limit)
I'm helpless, I know
(Down for the count and I'm drownin' in 'em)
(Helpless) I'm so into you
(Look into your eyes and the sky's the limit) I am so into you
I'm helpless
I know I'm down for the count and I'm drownin' in 'em
Where are you taking me?
I'm about to change your life
Then by all means, lead the way
Elizabeth Schuyler
It's a pleasure to meet you
Schuyler?
My sister
Thank you for all your service
If it takes fighting a war for us to meet, it will have been worth it
I'll leave you to it
One week later
I'm writin' a letter nightly
Now my life gets better, every letter that you write me
Laughin' at my sister, 'cause she wants to form a harem
I'm just sayin', if you really loved me, you would share him (ha!)
Two weeks later
In the living room stressin'
My father's stone-faced
While you're asking for his blessin'
I'm dying inside, as you wine and dine
And I'm tryin' not to cry
'Cause there's nothing that your mind can't do
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)
Look into your eyes and the sky's the limit
I'm helpless (helpless)
Down for the count (woo) and I'm drownin' in 'em
(Helpless) that boy is mine, that boy is mine
(Look into your eyes and the sky's the limit)
(I'm helpless) I'm so helpless
Down for the count (yuh) and I'm drownin' in 'em
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
No stress, my love for you is never in doubt
We'll get a little place in Harlem and we'll figure it out
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
(Helpless) I do, I do, I do, I do
Eliza
I do, I do, I do, I do
I never felt so (hey)
(Yeah, yeah) I'm down for the count
Said I'm down for the count, I'm
Yo, my life is gon' be fine 'cause Eliza's in it (helpless)
I look into your eyes and the sky's the limit, I'm (helpless)
Down for the count and I'm drownin' in 'em
In New York, you can be a new man
In New York, you can be a new man
In New York, you can be a new man
Helpless
The song Helpless by Phillipa Soo is a part of the musical "Hamilton." In the song, the singer Eliza Schuyler describes how she fell in love with Alexander Hamilton at the first sight during a revel. She feels helpless as she looks into his eyes, and the sky's the limit for her love. Later, they exchange letters, and Eliza's father gives his blessings for their love. In the end, Eliza and Alexander confess their love for each other and decide to spend their lives together.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey hey hey hey (ohh, I do I do I do I)
Excitedly acknowledging and accepting the overpowering feeling of being in love with someone.
Boy you got me
Helpless
Being completely powerless and unable to resist the charm and attraction of the person she loves.
Look into your eyes, and the sky's the limit I'm helpless
Down for the count, and I'm drownin' in 'em
Feeling overwhelmed and captivated by the depth and beauty of the eyes of the person she loves.
I have never been the type to try and grab the spotlight
We were at a revel with some rebels on a hot night
Laughin' at my sister as she's dazzling the room
Then you walked in and my heart went boom
Being content with being in the background until the moment she meets the person who will change her life.
Tryin' to catch your eye from the side of the ballroom
Everybody's dancin' and the band's top volume
Making an effort to catch the attention of the person she likes, but feeling insignificant amidst the lively and loud atmosphere of the party.
Grind to the rhythm as we wine and dine
Grab my sister, and
Whisper, yo, this one's mine
Indulging in the fun and excitement of the party, but also taking steps to express her interest in the person she likes.
My sister made her way across the room to you (ooh)
And I got nervous, thinking what's she gonna do? (ooh)
She grabbed you by the arm, I'm thinkin' I'm through (ooh)
Then you look back at me and suddenly I'm (ooh)
Helpless
Feeling anxious and defeated when the person she likes is approached by her sister, but then feeling hopeful and exhilarated when the person looks back at her.
Where are you taking me?
I'm about to change your life
Then by all means, lead the way
Elizabeth Schuyler
It's a pleasure to meet you
Schuyler?
My sister
Thank you for all your service
If it takes fighting a war for us to meet, it will have been worth it
I'll leave you to it
Expressing eagerness and willingness to embark on a journey with the person she loves, and acknowledging and appreciating his contribution to their country.
I'm writin' a letter nightly
Now my life gets better, every letter that you write me
Laughin' at my sister, 'cause she wants to form a harem
I'm just sayin', if you really loved me, you would share him
Ha
Writing letters to the person she loves and finding happiness in his replies, while also teasing her sister for her desire to be with the same person, but expressing her possessiveness and exclusivity towards him.
Two weeks later
In the living room stressin'
My father's stone-faced
While you're asking for his blessin'
I'm dying inside, as
You wine
And dine
And I'm tryin' not to cry
'Cause there's nothing that your mind can't do
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
Feeling anxious and tense when the person she loves meets her father to seek his approval, but then feeling relieved and overwhelmed with love and joy when he gets it.
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
No stress, my love for you is never in doubt
We'll get a little place in Harlem and we'll figure it out
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
Eliza
I've never felt so
My life is gon' be fine 'cause Eliza's in it
Revealing his humble beginnings and challenging circumstances, but also expressing his love for Eliza and his commitment to making a life with her.
In New York, you can be a new man
In New York, you can be a new man
In New York, you can be a new man
Helpless
Highlighting the excitement and potential of starting a new life and identity with the person she loves in the bustling city of New York.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Lin-Manuel Miranda
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind