The Election of 1800 Songtext
von Lin‐Manuel Miranda

(The election of 1800)
Can we get back to politics?
Please?

Yo
Ev′ry action has its equal, opposite reaction
John Adams shat the bed, I love the guy, but he's in traction
Poor Alexander Hamilton, he is missing in action
So now I′m facing
Aaron Burr
With his own faction

He's very attractive in the North, New Yorkers like his chances
He's not very forthcoming on any particular stances
Ask him a question, it glances off, he obfuscates, he dances
And they say I′m a Francophile, at least they know I know where France is!


Thomas that′s the problem, see, they see Burr as a less extreme you (ha!)
You need to change course, a key endorsement might redeem you
Who did you have in mind?
Don't laugh
Who is it?
You used to work on the same staff
What

It might be nice, it might be nice
To get Hamilton on your side
It might be nice, it might be nice
To get Hamilton on your side

Talk less (Burr!)
Smile more (Burr!)
Don′t let 'em know what you′re against or what you're for (Burr!)
Shake hands with him (Burr!)
Charm her (Burr!)
It′s 1800, ladies, tell your husbands
Vote for Burr (Burr!)


I don't like Adams
Well, he's gonna lose, that′s just defeatist
And Jefferson?
In love with France!
Yeah, he′s so elitist!
I like that Aaron Burr!
I can't believe we′re here with him!
He seems approachable
Like you could grab a beer with him!

Dear Mr. Hamilton
Your fellow Fed'ralists would like to know how you′ll be voting
(It's quiet uptown)
Dear Mr. Hamilton
John Adams doesn′t stand a chance, so who are you promoting?
(It's quiet uptown)

Jefferson or Burr? (Jefferson or Burr)
We know it's lose-lose
Jefferson or Burr? (Jefferson or Burr)
But if you had to choose
Dear Mr. Hamilton
John Adams doesn′t stand a chance, so who are you promoting?
But if you had to choose

Well, if it isn′t Aaron Burr, sir
Alexander!
You've created quite a stir, sir
I′m going door to door
You're openly campaigning?
Sure!
That′s new
Honestly, it's kind of draining

Burr
Sir
Is there anything you wouldn′t do?
No, I'm chasing what I want
And you know what?
What?
I learned that from you

If you had to choose
If you had to choose
(It's a tie!)
If you had to choose
If you had to choose
(It′s up to the delegates!)

If you had to choose
If you had to choose
(It′s up to Hamilton!)
If you had to choose
Jefferson or Burr? (Jefferson or Burr)
Choose, choose, choose

Yo
(Oh!)
The people are asking to hear my voice
(Oh!)
For the country is facing a difficult choice
(Oh!)
And if you were to ask me who I'd promote
(Oh!)
Jefferson has my vote
(Oh!)
I had never agreed with Jefferson once
(Oh!)
We have fought on like 75 diff′rent fronts
(Oh!)
But when all is said and all is done
Jefferson has beliefs, Burr has none
(Ooh!)

Well, I'll be damned
Well, I′ll be damned
Hamilton's on your side
Well, I′ll be damned
Well, I'll be damned
And?
You won in a landslide

Congrats on a race well-run
I did give you a fight
(Uh-huh)
I look forward to our partnership
Our partnership?
As your Vice President
Haha, yeah, right!
You hear this guy? Man openly campaigns against me, talkin' bout, "I look forward to our partnership"
It is crazy that the guy who comes in second becomes Vice President
Ooh! You know what? We can change that! You know why?
Why?
′Cause I′m the President
Burr, when you see Hamilton, thank him for the endorsement