Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down)
Lin-Manuel Miranda, Original Broadway Cast of Hamilton
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The battle of Yorktown seventeen-eighty-one Monsieur Hamilton Monsieur Lafayette In command where you belong How you say, no sweat We're finally on the field We’ve had quite a run Immigrants We get the job done So what happens if we win? I go back to France I bring freedom to my people if I’m given the chance We’ll be with you when you do Go lead your men See you on the other side ‘Til we meet again, let’s go I am not throwin’ away my shot I am not throwin’ away my shot Hey yo, I’m just like my country, I’m young Scrappy and hungry And I’m not throwin’ away my shot I am not throwin’ away my shot ‘Til the world turns upside down ‘Til the world turns upside down I imagine death so much it feels more like a memory This is where it gets me: on my feet The enemy ahead of me If this is the end of me, at least I have a friend with me Weapon in my hand, a command, and my men with me Then I remember my Eliza’s expecting me Not only that, my Eliza’s expecting We gotta go, gotta get the job done Gotta start a new nation, gotta meet my son Take the bullets out your gun (what?) The bullets out your gun (what?) We move under cover and we move as one Through the night, we have one shot to live another day We cannot let a stray gunshot give us away We will fight up close, seize the moment and stay in it It’s either that or meet the business end of a bayonet The code word is ‘Rochambeau,’ dig me? Rochambeau You have your orders now, go, man, go And so the American experiment begins With my friends all scattered to the winds Laurens is in South Carolina, redefining brav’ry We’ll never be free until we end slavery When we finally drive the British away Lafayette is there waiting In Chesapeake Bay How did we know that this plan would work? We had a spy on the inside That’s right Hercules Mulligan A tailor spyin’ on the British government I take their measurements, information and then I smuggle it (up) To my brother's revolutionary covenant I’m runnin’ with the Sons of Liberty and I am lovin’ it See, that’s what happens when you up against the ruffians We in the shit now, somebody gotta shovel it Hercules Mulligan, I need no introduction When you knock me down I get the f*ck back up again Left, right, hold Go What What What After a week of fighting, a young man in a red coat stands on a parapet We lower our guns as he frantically waves a white handkerchief And just like that, it’s over We tend to our wounded, we count our dead Black and white soldiers wonder alike if this really means freedom Not yet We negotiate the terms of surrender I see George Washington smile We escort their men out of Yorktown They stagger home single file Tens of thousands of people flood the streets There are screams and church bells ringing And as our fallen foes retreat I hear the drinking song they’re singing The world turned upside down The world turned upside down The world turned upside down The world turned upside down Down Down, down, down Freedom for America, freedom for France Down, down, down Gotta start a new nation Gotta meet my son Down, down, down We won We won We won We won The world turned upside down
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_(cropped).jpg/234px-Lin-Manuel_Miranda_Walk_of_Fame_ceremony_(32253127108)_(cropped).jpg "Lin-Manuel Miranda")
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Written by: Lin-Manuel Miranda
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
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12 facts about this song
Historical InfluenceThe song "Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down)" is heavily inspired by the historical event of the Battle of Yorktown. This was the final major battle of the American Revolutionary War, which completed the American victory over the British.
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Track PositionIt is the 20th song in the first act of the critically acclaimed Broadway musical, "Hamilton," which was created by Lin-Manuel Miranda.
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Song LengthThe duration of the song is approximately 4 minutes and 4 seconds, making it one of the longer songs in the "Hamilton" musical.
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Narrative RoleThe story of the song focuses on Alexander Hamilton’s military engagement and leadership during the Battle of Yorktown. It narrates the decisive victory which leads to American Independence.
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Musical StyleDespite being set during the American Revolutionary War, the song incorporates modern musical elements including hip-hop, R&B, and rap, indicative of the general fusion of styles that "Hamilton" is renowned for.
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CollaborationThe song includes performances from other cast members, including Christopher Jackson (George Washington), Daveed Diggs (Marquis de Lafayette), and Anthony Ramos (John Laurens).
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Historical AccuracyThe title of the song is a reference to a (possibly apocryphal) song British troops are said to have played after their surrender at Yorktown, aptly named "The World Turned Upside Down."
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Emotional ImpactThe song culminates in an emotional high point, with the cast celebrating their victory and newfound freedom, and Hamilton reflecting on his fallen comrades.
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Critical AcclaimLike the rest of the musical, "Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down)" was well-received by critics and audiences alike. It was praised for its narrative depth and bold blending of historical events with modern music genres.
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Creative ProcessLin-Manuel Miranda, when creating this song, said he read multiple books on the Battle of Yorktown to ensure he was being as historically accurate as possible.
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Award PerformanceThe "Hamilton" cast performed "Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down)" at the 70th Tony Awards in 2016, where the musical won 11 awards out of a record-setting 16 nominations.
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InfluenceThe story of the Battle of Yorktown and its presentation in the song inspired multiple in-depth discussions about the real event and also helped to popularize the story among younger audiences.
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Citation
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"Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down) Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Apr. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/32212223/Lin-Manuel+Miranda/Yorktown+%28The+World+Turned+Upside+Down%29>.
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