When he was ten his father split, full of it, debt-ridden
Two years later, see Alex and his mother bed-ridden
Half-dead sittin' in their own sick, the scent thick
(And Alex got better but his mother went quick)
moved in with a cousin the cousin committed suicide
left him with nothing but ruined pride something new inside a voice saying Alex you gotta fend for yourself he started reading every treatise on the sheeelllllf
there would have been nothin' left to do for someone less astute
he woulda been dead or destitute without a cent of restitution
started workin', clerkin' for his late mother's landlord
tradin' sugar cane and rum and all the things he cain't affooord
There would have been nothin' left to do for someone less astute
He woulda been dead or destitute without a cent of restitution
Started workin', clerkin' for his late mother's landlord
Tradin' sugar cane and rum and all the things he can't afford
Scammin' for every book he can get his hands on
Plannin' for the future see him now as he stands on
The bow of a ship headed for the new land
In New York you can be a new man
In New York you can be a new man (Just you waait)
In New York you can be a new man (Just you waaait)
In New York you can be a new man
In New Yooork, New Yoork
Just you waaait!
(Alexander Hamilton)
We are waiting in the wings for you
(waiting in the wings for you)
You could never back down
you never learned to take your tiiime, ohh
the ship is in the harbor noow
see if you can spot him (Just you wait)
another immigrant comin' up from the bottom (Just you wait)
his enemies destroyed his rep America forgot him
