Alexander Hamilton Didn't Hesitate, Aaron Burr Lay in Wait. Which One are You?

Aug 17

The movie version of the Broadway sensation, Hamilton was released on Disney+ on July 3rd of this year. And if you’re anything like me, you’ve already watched it four times.

The whole thing is a revolution, from the story itself to the writer and cast and the music and lyrics.

Hamilton is a rap and hiphop musical drama written by Lin-Manual Miranda, a man who was raised in Harlem by Puerto Rican immigrant parents and nearly none of the cast members are white. While there are a lot of theories about Miranda’s motivation for this, I can’t help by recognize it’s storytelling power within the context of the founding fathers’ stories we all know: people of color have been written out of the narrative until now-kinda.

The revolution that is the entire script and score is only one of the many reasons I was immediately so drawn to the musical.

I found myself aligning with Hamilton’s personal belief system. Early in Act I, Hamilton has just found his way to New York City from his home of the Caribbean island of Nevis, and the revolution is starting.

He raps, “Just like my country I’m young, scrappy, and hungry and I’m not throwing away my shot.”

He’s loud, obnoxious, opinionated, gets in trouble on purpose, and doesn’t shy away from saying exactly what he thinks and wants.

Aaron Burr, who ultimately shoots Hamilton in a duel many years later (this isn’t a spoiler, it’s history), is also young and in New York City hoping to make a name for himself. Contrary to Hamilton though, he keeps his cards close to his chest. He doesn’t want anyone to know where he stands in the politics of the day or any other subject.

When Hamilton talks about writing the Federalist Papers to defend the new constitution, Burr says he does believe in the constitution but doesn’t want to defend it because he says, “what if you’re backing the wrong horse?”

Hamilton doesn’t care. He exhibits no restraint. He knows what he wants and he goes after it. He knows some people will love him for it and most will hate him for it (it’s hard to imagine now, but back then a lot of people didn’t believe in the constitution because it solidified a federal government. Many people wanted each state to be its own sovereign).

My favorite song in the musical is one sung by Aaron Burr (performed by Leslie Odom Jr.) and is his justification for waiting for what he wants.

It’s my favorite because I so adamantly disagree with it.

Here are the lyrics:

Death doesn't discriminate
Between the sinners
And the saints
It takes and it takes and it takes
And we keep living anyway
We rise and we fall
And we break
And we make our mistakes
And if there's a reason
I'm still alive
When everyone who loves me has died
I'm willing to wait for it
I'm willing to wait for it
Wait for it

I am the one thing in life I can control
I am inimitable
I am an original
I'm not falling behind or running late
I'm not standing still I am lying in wait

Hamilton faces an endless uphill climb
He has something to prove
He has nothing to lose
Hamilton's pace is relentless
He wastes no time

What is it like in his shoes?

Hamilton doesn't hesitate
He exhibits no restraint
He takes and he takes and he takes
And he keeps winning anyway
He changes the game
He plays and he raises the stakes
And if there's a reason
He seems to thrive when so few survive, then Goddamnit-

I'm willing to wait for it
I'm willing to wait for it...

Life doesn't discriminate
Between the sinners and the saints
It takes and it takes and it takes
We rise We fall
And if there's a reason I'm still alive
When so many have died Then I'm willin' to-
Wait for it
Wait for...
I'm willing to-

Life doesn't discriminate
Between the sinners and the saints
It takes and it takes and it takes
And we keep living anyway
We rise and we fall and we break
And we make our mistakes
And if there's a reason I'm still alive
When so many have died
Then I'm willin' to-

Wait for it...

source: https://www.lyricsondemand.com/soundtracks/h/hamiltonlyrics/waitforitlyrics.html

What would have been of Burr’s life had he not waited for life to happen to him. What if he hadn’t kept his cards so close to his chest; what if he spoke out in favor of the constitution; what if he didn’t hesitate like Hamilton? Would he still be the villain of the story?

Here’s how this translates into the life we’re all living today:

While you lie in wait, other people aren’t. There are people who don’t hesitate, who say what they think and make it known what they want. There are people who, maybe even people who are less talented than you, are making waves and standing up for what they believe in.

It doesn’t have to be something as monumental as the American Revolution or the constitution for it to matter. Whether that’s starting your business, committing to a goal, or finishing what you start: exhibit no restraint.

Just like Hamilton, you face an endless uphill climb. So what?

Burr says it himself: Death doesn’t discriminate. It takes and it takes.

There’s nothing you can do about that. So what are you going to do with the time you have right now. Lay in way or exhibit no restraint?

Are you Burr or Hamilton?