10 Types of Tears Hamilton Made You Shed

Photo credit: Sara Krulwich

#1: Young, Scrappy, and Hungry Tears

From his very first introduction (“How does a bastard, orphan, son of a whore and a Scotsman…” you know it!!!!), we’re set up to have the exact reaction Hamilton’s soon-to-be friends have upon meeting him: WHO IS THIS KID, WHAT’S HE GON’ DO? The first couple of songs introduce us to Alexander Hamilton as though we’ve never heard of him before. And, as is essentially the point of the show, it turns out, we kinda haven’t. We know his name. We were all pretty sure that was him on the ten dollar bill. But how many of us, before Mr. Miranda came along and made/ruined our lives, knew anything about his childhood or his first years in America? His origin story is more interesting than 99% percent of the moody daddy-issued superheroes we’re dealing with today, and we had no idea!

…Until he refused to throw away his shot. By the third song, introductions have been made, Alexander has been established as a brilliant, outspoken-if-not-a-little-obnoxious go-getter. Also by the third song, we have teared up at least 4 separate times. His tenacity, passion, and refusal to accept anything less than greatness, for himself and for his country, are tear-inducing-ly inspiring, to say the least. Thank GOD, after 240 years, Lin got this guy in front of a crowd, am I right??

Songs to cry to: Alexander Hamilton, My Shot