Stay Alive - Lin-Manuel Miranda, Phillipa Soo, Original Broadway Cast of Hamilton

Stay alive…

Stay alive…

I have never seen the General so despondent

I have taken over writing all his correspondence

Congress writes, «George, attack the British forces.»

I shoot back, we have resorted to eating our horses

Local merchants deny us equipment, assistance

They only take British money, so sing a song of sixpence

The cavalry’s not coming

But, sir!

Alex, listen.

There’s only one way for us to win this

Provoke outrage, outright

That’s right

Don’t engage, strike by night

Remain relentless 'til their troops take flight

Make it impossible to justify the cost of the fight

Outrun

Outrun

Outlast

Outlast

Hit 'em quick, get out fast

Chick-a-plao!

Stay alive 'til this horror show is past

We’re gonna fly a lot of flags half-mast

Raise a glass!

I go back to New York and my apprenticeship

I ask for French aid, I pray that France has sent a ship

I stay at work with Hamilton

We write essays against slavery

And every day’s a test of our camaraderie and bravery

We cut supply lines, we steal contraband

We pick and choose our battles and places to take a stand

And ev’ry day

«Sir, entrust me with a command»

And ev’ry day

No

He dismisses me out of hand

Instead of me (Stay alive…)

He promotes

Charles Lee (Charles Lee)

Makes him second-in-command:

I’m a General.

Whee!

Yeah.

He’s not the choice I would have gone with

He shits the bed at the Battle of Monmouth

Ev’ryone attack!

Retreat!

Attack!

Retreat!

What are you doing, Lee?

Get back on your feet!

But there’s so many of them!

I’m sorry, is this not your speed?!

Hamilton!

Ready, sir!

Have Lafayette take the lead!

Yes, sir!

A thousand soldiers die in a hundred degree heat

As we snatch a stalemate from the jaws of defeat

Charles Lee was left behind

Without a pot to piss in

He started sayin' this to anybody who would listen:

Washington cannot be left alone to his devices

Indecisive, from crisis to crisis

The best thing he can do for the revolution

Is turn n' go back to plantin' tobacco in Mount Vernon

Oo!

Don’t do a thing.

History will prove him wrong

But, sir!

We have a war to fight, let’s move along

Strong words from Lee, someone oughta hold him to it

I can’t disobey direct orders

Then I’ll do it

Alexander, you’re the closest friend I’ve got

Laurens, do not throw away your shot