Lin-Manuel Miranda Lyrics
Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story Lyrics
[WASHINGTON:]
Let me tell you what I wish I'd known
When I was young and dreamed of glory
You have no control:
[WASHINGTON AND COMPANY:]
Who lives
Who dies
Who tells your story?
[BURR:]
President Jefferson:
[JEFFERSON:]
I'll give him this: his financial system is a work of genius
I couldn't undo it if I tried
And I tried
[WASHINGTON AND COMPANY:]
Who lives
Who dies
Who tells your story?
[BURR:]
President Madison:
[MADISON:]
He took our country from bankruptcy to prosperity
I hate to admit it, but he doesn't get enough credit for all the credit he gave us
[WASHINGTON AND COMPANY:]
Who lives
Who dies
Who tells your story?
[ANGELICA:]
Every other founding father's story gets told
Every other founding father gets to grow old
[BURR:]
But when you're gone, who remembers your name?
Who keeps your flame?
[BURR AND MEN (ANGELICA AND WOMEN):]
Who tells your story?
(Who tells your story?)
Who tells your story? (Your story?)
[WOMEN:]
Eliza
[ELIZA:]
I put myself back in the narrative
[WOMEN:]
Eliza
[ELIZA:]
I stop wasting time on tears
I live another fifty years
It's not enough
[COMPANY:]
Eliza
[ELIZA:]
I interview every soldier who fought by your side
[MULLIGAN/LAFAYETTE/LAURENS:]
She tells our story
[ELIZA:]
I try to make sense of your thousands of pages of writings
You really do write like you're running out of
[ELIZA AND COMPANY:]
Time
[ELIZA:]
I rely on
[ELIZA AND ANGELICA:]
Angelica
[ELIZA:]
While she's alive
[ELIZA AND ANGELICA:]
We tell your story
[ELIZA:]
She is buried in Trinity Church
[ELIZA AND ANGELICA:]
Near you
[ELIZA:]
When I needed her most, she was right on
[ELIZA AND COMPANY:]
Time
[ELIZA:]
And I'm still not through
I ask myself, "What would you do if you had more"�
[ELIZA AND COMPANY:]
Time
[ELIZA:]
The Lord, in his kindness
He gives me what you always wanted
He gives me more
[ELIZA AND COMPANY:]
Time
[ELIZA:]
I raise funds in D.C. for the Washington Monument
[WASHINGTON:]
She tells my story
[ELIZA:]
I speak out against slavery
You could have done so much more if you only had
[ELIZA AND COMPANY:]
Time
[ELIZA:]
And when my time is up, have I done enough?
[ELIZA AND COMPANY:]
Will they tell our story?
[ELIZA:]
Oh. Can I show you what I'm proudest of?
[COMPANY:]
The orphanage
[ELIZA:]
I established the first private orphanage in New York City
[COMPANY:]
The orphanage
[ELIZA:]
I help to raise hundreds of children
I get to see them growing up
[COMPANY:]
The orphanage
[ELIZA:]
In their eyes I see you, Alexander
I see you every
[ELIZA AND COMPANY:]
Time
[ELIZA:]
And when my time is up
Have I done enough?
[ELIZA AND COMPANY:]
Will they tell my story?
[ELIZA:]
Oh, I can't wait to see you again
It's only a matter of
[ELIZA AND COMPANY:]
Time
[COMPANY:]
Will they tell your story?
(Time...)
Who lives, who dies, who tells your story?
(Time...)
Will they tell your story?
(Time...)
Who lives, who dies
[FULL COMPANY:]
Who tells your story?