"Dear Theodosia" is the 22nd song of Act One of the musical Hamilton.
Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton sing of their hopes for the futures of their loved ones - for Burr being his daughter Theodosia and for Hamilton, his son, Philip. They vow to be there for their children, to substitute for the absence of their fathers during their childhoods. It is a sweet song with no company inclusion, only the two men swept away with pride and love for their children. It is different from many of the other hard, rap songs in Hamilton, it is sweet and slow.
Lyrics[]
[BURR]
Dear Theodosia, what to say to you?
You have my eyes, you have your mother's name
When you came into the world you cried,
and it broke my heart.
I'm dedicating every day to you
Domestic life was never quite my style
When you smile, you knock me out, I fall apart
And I thought I was so smart
You will come of age with our young nation
We'll bleed and fight for you
We'll make it right for you
If we lay a strong enough foundation
We'll pass it on to you
We'll give the world to you
And you'll blow us all away, someday, someday
Yeah, you'll blow us all away, someday, someday
[HAMILTON]
Oh... Philip, when you smile I am undone
My son. Look at my son
Pride is not the word I'm looking for
There is so much more inside me now
Oh, Philip, you outshine the morning sun
My son
When you smile, I fall apart
And I thought I was so smart
My father wasn't around
[BURR]
My father wasn't around
I swear that | [BURR] |
[HAMILTON]
I'll do whatever it takes
[BURR]
I'll make a million mistakes
[HAMILTON/BURR]
I'll make the world safe and sound for you...
...will come of age with our young nation
We'll bleed and fight for you
We'll make it right for you
If we lay a strong enough foundation
We'll pass it on to you
We'll give the world to you
And you'll blow us all away
Someday, someday...
Yeah, you'll blow us all away
Someday, someday...
Alternate versions[]
Soundboard Recording[]
- The song ends in this version with Hamilton and Burr reprising their verses at the same time, with their singing overlapping, before the final "you will come of age with our young nation..." lines being sung by the female ensemble.
Trivia[]
- Lin-Manuel Miranda stated that though this song is meant to be sweet, there is also a hint of irony in its lyrics [1]. Though both men sing of keeping their children safe from harm, Philip was shot to death in a duel [died by bullet wound] and Theodosia was lost at sea. In his words, "both were literally or figuratively blown away at the prime of life".
- The irony in these words is revealed in Blow Us All Away, which are the exact lyrics in this song but used in an event when Philip is caught in a duel which will, eventually, end his life.
- Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote the song the week he adopted his dog Tobillo.
Gallery[]
