Right Hand Man

British Admiral Howe's got troops on the water Thirty-two thousand troops in New York Harbor Thirty-two thousand troops in New York Harbor When they surround our troops They surround our troops When they surround our troops As a kid in the Caribbean I wished for a war I knew that I was poor; I knew it was the only way to Rise up If they tell my story I am either gonna die on the battlefield in glory or Rise up I will fight for this land, but there's only one man Who can give us a command, so we can Rise up Understand, it's the only way to Rise up Rise up Here he comes Here comes the general! Ladies and gentlemen! Here comes the general! The moment you've been waiting for! Here comes the general! The Pride of Mount Vernon! Here comes the general! George Washington! We are out-gunned (What!) Out-manned (What!) Out-numbered, out-planned (Boom, boom, boom; boom, boom!) We gotta make an all-out stand Hey yo, I'm gonna need a right-hand man (Boom, boom, boom; boom, boom!) Check it — Can I be real a second? For just a millisecond? Let down my guard and tell the people how I feel a second? Now I'm the model of a modern major general The venerated Virginian veteran whose men are all Lining up to put me up on a pedestal, writing letters to relatives Embellishing my elegance and eloquence But the elephant is in the room The truth is in your face When you hear the British cannons go Boom! Any hope of success is fleeting How can I keep leading when the people I'm leading keep retreating? We put a stop to the bleeding as the British take Brooklyn Knight takes rook, but look We are out-gunned (What!) Out-manned (What!) Out-numbered, out-planned! (Boom, boom, boom; boom, boom) We gotta make an all-out stand Hey yo, I'm gonna need a right-hand man (Boom, boom, boom; boom, boom) Incoming! They're battering down the Battery, check the damages (Brrah!) We gotta stop 'em and rob 'em of their advantages (Brrah!) Let's take a stand with the stamina God has granted us Hamilton won't abandon ship; yo, let's steal their cannons! (Sh-boom!) Goes the cannon, watch the blood and the shit spray, and (Boom!) Goes the cannon, we're abandoning Kips Bay, and (Boom!) There's another ship, and (Boom!) We just lost the southern tip, and (Boom!) We gotta run to Harlem quick; we can't afford another slip Guns and horses giddy up I decide to divvy up my forces They're skittish as the British cut the city up This close to giving up, facing mad scrutiny I scream in the face of this mass mutiny: "Are these the men with which I am to defend America?" We ride at midnight, Manhattan in the distance I cannot be everywhere at once, people! I'm in dire need of assistance Your Excellency, sir Who are you? Aaron Burr, sir Permission to state my case? As you were Sir, I was a captain under General Montgomery Until he caught a bullet in the neck in Quebec, and well, in summary: I think that I could be of some assistance I admire how you keep firing on the British from a distance Huh I have some questions, a couple of suggestions On how to fight instead of fleeing west Yes? Well — Your Excellency? You wanted to see me? Hamilton, come in. Have you met Burr? Yes, sir! We keep meeting... As I was saying, sir I look forward to seeing your strategy play out — Burr? Sir? Close the door on your way out Have I done something wrong, sir? On the contrary I called you here because our odds are beyond scary Your reputation precedes you, but I have to laugh — Sir? Hamilton, how come no one can get you on their staff? Sir! Don't get me wrong; you're a young man of great renown I know you stole British cannons when we were still downtown Nathanael Greene and Henry Knox wanted to hire you — Yeah, to be their secretary! I don't think so. Now why are you upset? I'm not? It's all right you want to fight: you've got a hunger I was just like you when I was younger Head full of fantasies of dying like a martyr Yes Dying is easy, young man; living is harder Why are you telling me this? I'm being honest I'm working with a third of what our Congress has promised We are a powder keg about to explode I need someone like you to lighten the load So? I am not throwing away my shot I am not throwing away my shot Hey yo, I'm just like my country I'm young, scrappy, and hungry I am not throwing away my shot Son, we are out-gunned, out-manned! You need all the help you can get, I have some friends: Laurens, Mulligan, Marquis de Lafayette! Okay, what else? Outnumbered, outplanned! We'll need some spies on the inside Some king's men who might let some things slide Boom! I'll write to Congress and tell them we need supplies You rally the guys, master the element of surprise Chick-a-boom! I'll rise above my station, organize your information 'Til we rise to the occasion of our new nation, sir! Here comes the general! Rise up! What! Here comes the general! Rise up! What! Here comes the general! Rise up! What! Here comes the general! What! And his right-hand man! Boom!