Lin-Manuel Miranda: I'm thrilled the White House called me tonight because I'm

actually working on a hip-hop album.

It's a concept album about the life of someone I think embodies

hip-hop Treasury Secretary, Alexander Hamilton.

(laughter)

You laugh, but it's true!

He was born a penniless orphan in St. Croix of illegitimate

birth, became George Washington's right-hand man,

became Treasury Secretary, caught beef with every other

founding father.

And all in the strength of his writing,

I think he embodies the world's ability to make a difference.

So I'm going to be doing the first song from that tonight.

I'm accompanied by Tony and Grammy music director Alex Lacamoire.

(applause)

Anything you need to know -- I'll be playing Vice President Aaron Burr.

And snap along if you like.

♪♪(piano playing)♪♪

How does a bastard orphan son of a whore and a Scotsman dropped

in the middle of a forgotten spot in the Caribbean,

my providence impoverished in squalor grow up to be a

hero and a scholar?

The ten dollar founding father without a father got a lot

farther by working a lot harder by being a lot smarter

by being a self-starter

By 14, they had placed him in charge of a trade and charter

And everyday, while slaves were being slaughtered or

carted away across the waves our Hamilton kept his guard up

Inside, he was longing for something to be a part of

The brother was ready to beg, steal, borrow, or barter

Then a hurricane came and devastation reigned

And our man saw his future drip, dripping down the drain

Put a pencil to his temple, connected it to his brain

And he wrote his first refrain, a testament to his pain

When the word got around, they said, this kid is insane, man,

took up a collection just to send him to the mainland

Get your education

Don't forget from whence you came

And the world is going to know your name

What's your name, man?

Alexander Hamilton

(laughter)

His name is Alexander Hamilton

And there's a million things he hasn't done

But just you wait, just you wait

When he was ten, his father split

Full of it. Debt ridden.

Two years later see Alex and his mother bedridden

Half dead sitting 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 got to fend for yourself

He started retreating and reading every treat

that's on the shelf

There would have been nothing left to do for someone lest astute

He would have been dead and destitute without a cent of restitution

Starting working, clerking for his late mother's landlord

Trading sugarcane and rum and all the things he can't afford

Skinned for every book he can get his hands on

Planning for the future, see him now as he stands on the bow of a

ship headed for a new land

In New York you can be a new man

The ship is in the harbor now see if you can spot him

Another immigrant coming up from the bottom

His enemies destroyed his rep, America, forgot him

And me I'm the damn fool that shot him

Alexander Hamilton

(laughter)

We were waiting in the weeds for you

You could never back down you always had to speak your mind

But Alexander Hamilton we could never take your deeds from you

In our cowardice and our shame, we will try to destroy your name

The world will never be the same Alexander!

Yeah, I'm the damn genius that shot him

(applause)

Thank you.

(applause)