Daveed Diggs, Christopher Jackson, Leslie Odom Jr., & Cast Of Hamilton - Lafayette Interlude Lyrics

Daveed Diggs, Christopher Jackson, Leslie Odom Jr., & Cast Of Hamilton Lyrics

"Lafayette Interlude"
(from "Hamilton: An American Musical" soundtrack)

[Burr:]
How does a ragtag volunteer army in need of a shower
Somehow defeat a global superpower?
How does King George underestimate his haters?

[King George III:]
Once we beat the traitors, we'll be greeted as liberators!

[Company:]
Yay!

[Burr:]
Now, turns out we have a secret weapon!
An immigrant you know and love who's unafraid to step in!
He's constantly confusin', confoundin' the British henchmen
Ev'ryone give it up for America's favorite fighting Frenchman!

[Company:]
Lafayette!

[Lafayette:]
I'm taking this horse by the reins makin'
Redcoats redder with bloodstains

[Company:]
Lafayette!

[Lafayette:]
And I'm never gonna stop 'til I make 'em
Drop, burn 'em up and scatter their remains, I'm..

[Company:]
Lafayette!

[Lafayette:]
Watch me escapin' em! Engagin' em!
Enragin' em! I'm...

[Company:]
Lafayette!

[Lafayette:]
I go to France for more funds

[Company:]
Lafayette!

[Lafayette:]
I come back with more

[Lafayette and Ensemble:]
Guns
And ships
And so the balance shifts

[Washington:]
We rendezvous with Rochambeau, consolidate their gifts

[Lafayette:]
We can end the war at Yorktown, cut them off at sea, but
If we're to succeed, there's someone else we need:

[Washington:]
Please

[Washington and Company:]
Hamilton!

[Lafayette:]
Sir, he knows what to do in a trench
Ingenuitive and fluent in French, I mean..

[Washington and Company:]
Hamilton!

[Lafayette:]
Sir, you're gonna have to use him eventually
What's he gonna do on the bench? I mean..

[Washington and Company:]
Hamilton!

[Lafayette:]
No one has more resilience
Or matches my practical tactical brilliance..

[Washington and Company:]
Hamilton!

[Lafayette:]
You wanna fight for your land back?

[Washington and Company:]
Hamilton!

[Lafayette:]
Ya need your right hand man back!
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ya need your right hand man back
Get your right hand man back
Get your right hand man back!

[Washington:]
Alexander Hamilton
Troops are waiting in the field for you
If you join us right now, together we can turn the tide
Alexander Hamilton
I have soldiers who will yield for you
If we manage to get this right
They'll surrender by early light
The world will never be the same, Alexander...

Submit Corrections

This song was reworked to "Guns and Ships" for the Broadway musical. Mental Floss noted, "'Hamilton' may possibly hold the title of fastest-paced Broadway show, but the distinction of single fastest song is still pretty much a toss-up. 'Guns and Ships' the fastest song in Miranda's show, barrels along at 6.3 words per second..."

The use of the word "superpower" in these lyrics shows how this musical is not a retelling of Alexander Hamilton's life as it happened, but a story of the past as told by the present because the term "superpower" was not used until the middle of the 20th century.

"Betsy Ross' flag" mentioned at the beginning of this track was the first version of the flag of the United States of America. The flag was made when the Patriots were still fighting the Revolution.

Lafayette's verse that starts with "And I'm never gonna..." is the fastest part in Broadway history, according to FiveThirtyEight, with 19 words rapped in just 3 seconds.

"Lafayette Interlude" lyrics

Daveed Diggs, Christopher Jackson, Leslie Odom Jr., & Cast Of Hamilton Lyrics