"Aaron Burr, Sir" is the second song of Act One of the Broadway musical Hamilton.
This song sets the time and place of the story. It also introduces the characters Aaron Burr, John Laurens, Marquis de Lafayette, and Hercules Mulligan when Hamilton meets them in a bar and informs of Hamilton's and Burr's ambitions.
Lyrics[]
[ENSEMBLE]
1776.
New York City.
[HAMILTON]
Pardon me, are you Aaron Burr, sir?
[BURR]
That depends, who's asking?
[HAMILTON]
Oh, well sure, sir,
I'm Alexander Hamilton, I'm at your service, sir.
I have been looking for you.
[BURR]
I'm getting nervous.
[HAMILTON]
Sir,
I heard your name at Princeton,
I was seeking an accelerated course of study.
When I got sort of out of sorts with a buddy of yours.
I may have punched him,
It's a blur, sir-
He handles the financials?
[BURR]
You punched the bursar?
[HAMILTON]
Yes!
I wanted to do what you did,
Graduate in two, then join the revolution.
He looked at me like I was stupid,
I'm not stupid.
So how'd you do it, how'd you graduate so fast?
[BURR]
It was my parents' dying wish before they passed.
[HAMILTON]
You're an orphan. Of course! I'm an orphan!
God, I wish there was a war!
Then we could prove that we're worth more than anyone bargained for!
[BURR]
Can I buy you a drink?
[HAMILTON]
That would be nice.
[BURR]
While we're talking, let me offer you some free advice.
Talk less.
[HAMILTON]
What?
[BURR]
Smile more.
[HAMILTON]
Ha-
[BURR]
Don't let them know what you're against or what you're for.
[HAMILTON]
You can't be serious.
[BURR]
You wanna get ahead?
[HAMILTON]
Yes.
[BURR]
Fools who run their mouths off wind up dead.
[LAURENS]
A yo-yo yo-yo-yo!
What time is it?
[LAURENS, LAFAYETTE, & MULLIGAN]
Showtime!
[BURR]
Like I said.
[LAURENS]
Showtime! Showtime! Yo!
I'm John Laurens, in the place to be,
Had two pints of Sam Adams, but I'm working on three, hah!
Those redcoats don't want it with me!
'Cause I will pop chick-a-pop
These cops 'til I'm free!
[LAFAYETTE]
A-oui, oui, mon ami, je m'appelle Lafayette!
The Lancelot of the revolutionary set!
I came from afar, just to say "Bonsoir!",
Tell the king "Casse toi!"
Who's the best?
C'est moi.
[MULLIGAN]
Brah! Brah!
I am Hercules Mulligan!
Up in it, lovin' it, yes I heard your mother say, "Come again?"!
[LAFAYETTE & LAURENS]
Ayy!
[MULLIGAN]
Lock up your daughters and horses, of course,
It's hard to have intercourse, over four sets of corsets!
[LAFAYETTE]
Wow!
[LAURENS]
No more sex, pour me another brew, son,
Let's raise a couple more,
[LAURENS, LAFAYETTE, & MULLIGAN]
To the revolution!!!!!
[LAURENS]
Well, if it ain't the prodigy of Princeton College!
[MULLIGAN]
Aaron Burr!
[LAURENS]
Give us a verse, drop some knowledge!
[BURR]
Good luck with that, you're takin' a stand.
You spit, I'mma sit, we'll see where we land!
[LAFAYETTE & MULLIGAN]
Boo!
[LAURENS]
Burr, the revolution's imminent, whataya stall for?
[HAMILTON]
If you stand for nothing, Burr, what'll you fall for?
[LAURENS, LAFAYETTE & MULLIGAN]
Ooh.
[LAURENS]
Who are you?
[MULLIGAN]
Who are you?
[LAFAYETTE]
Who are you?
[LAURENS, LAFAYETTE, & MULLIGAN]
Ooh, who is this kid? What's he gonna do?
Soundboard Recording[]
[COMPANY]
1776, New York City
[HAMILTON]
Pardon me. Are you Aaron Burr, sir?
[BURR]
That depends, who’s asking?
[HAMILTON]
Oh, sure, sir
I’m Alexander Hamilton, I’m at your service, sir
I have been looking for you
[BURR]
I’m getting nervous
[HAMILTON]
Sir…
I heard your name at Princeton. I was seeking an accelerated course of study when I got sort of out of sorts with a buddy of yours. I may have punched him. It’s a blur, sir. He handles the financials?
[BURR]
You punched the bursar
[HAMILTON]
Yes!
I wanted to do what you did. Graduate in two, then join the revolution. He looked at me like I was stupid, I’m not stupid
So how’d you do it? How’d you graduate so fast?
[BURR]
It was my parents’ dying wish before they passed
[HAMILTON]
You’re an orphan. Of course! I’m an orphan
God, I wish there was a war, we could prove we’re worth more than anyone bargained for…
[BURR]
Can I buy you a drink?
[HAMILTON]
That would be nice
[BURR]
While we’re talking, let me offer you some free advice
Talk less
[HAMILTON]
Heh, what?
[BURR]
Smile more
[HAMILTON]
Ha
[BURR]
Don’t let them know what you’re against or what you’re for
[HAMILTON]
You can’t be serious
[BURR]
You wanna get ahead?
[HAMILTON]
Yes
[BURR]
Fools who run their mouths off wind up dead
[LAURENS]
Yo yo yo yo yo!
Yo yo yo yo yo!
[BURR]
…like I said…
[LAURENS]
Yo yo yo yo, I said
I’m John Laurens in the place to be!
Two pints o’ Sam Adams, and I’m workin’ on three, uh!
These redcoats don’t want it with me!
Cuz I will pop chick-a pop these cops till I’m free!
[LAFAYETTE]
Oui oui, mon ami, je m’appelle Lafayette!
The Lancelot of the revolutionary set!
I came from afar just to say “Bonsoir!”
Tell the King “Casse toi!” Who’s the best?
C’est moi!
[MULLIGAN]
Brrrah, brraaah! I am Hercules Mulligan
Up in it, lovin’ it, yes I heard ya mother said
[LAFAYETTE & LAURENS]
“Come again?”
[MULLIGAN]
Lock up ya daughters and horses, of course
It’s hard to have intercourse over four sets of corsets…
[LAFAYETTE]
Oh...
[LAURENS]
No more sex, pour me another brew, son!
Let’s raise a couple more…
[LAURENS/LAFAYETTE/MULLIGAN]
To the revolution!
[LAURENS]
Well, if it ain’t the prodigy of Princeton college!
[MULLIGAN]
Aaron Burr!
[LAURENS]
Give us a verse, drop some knowledge!
[BURR]
Good luck with that: you’re takin’ a stand
You spit. I’m ‘a sit. We’ll see where we land
[LAFAYETTE/MULLIGAN]
Boooo!
[LAURENS]
Burr, the revolution’s imminent. What do you stall for?
[HAMILTON]
If you stand for nothing, Burr, what will you fall for?
Differences between versions[]
- The song has more or less remained the same across Hamilton's various iterations. The only difference in the Soundboard Recording is that the ending does not include Hercules Mulligan's, Marquis de Lafayette's and John Laurens's question who Hamilton is and some of the introductions have been changed.
Trivia[]
- "Aaron Burr, Sir" is one of the original songs from The Hamilton Mixtape that remained in the musical when it went on Broadway, while others were cut from the act.
- There is anachronistic reference in the song, when John Laurens mentions "Sam Adams", despite the fact that the beer wouldn't be invented until 1984. This was likely included to reference the unseen Samuel Adams, a founding father, vital to the events that took place during Hamilton.