My Shot

Template:InfoboxSong

"My Shot" is the third song of Act One of the Broadway musical Hamilton. It is the third song of the musical overall.

The main characters' ambitions are further established, particularly Hamilton's. Hamilton's verbal dexterity is also showcased here. This is the first time we learn of his way with words.

Lyrics

[HAMILTON]

I am not throwing away my shot!

I am not throwing away my shot!

Heyo, I'm just like my country,

I'm young, scrappy, and hungry

And I'm not throwng away my shot!

I'm 'a get a scholarship to King's College,

I prob'ly shouldn't brag, but dag, I amaze and astonish

The problem is I got a lot of brains, but no polish

I gotta holler just to be heard,

With every word, I drop knowledge

I'm a diamond in the rough, a shiny piece of coal,

Tryin' to reach my goal, my power of speech, unimpeachable

Only nineteen, but my mind is older

These New York City streets get colder, I shoulder

Every burden, every disadvantage I have learned to manage

I don't have a gun to brandish, I walk these streets famished

The plan is to fan this spark into a flame,

But damn, it's gettin' dark so let me spell out my name

I am the --

[HAMILTON, LAURENS, LAFAYETTE, & MULLIGAN]

A-L-, E-X-, A-N-D-

E-R, we are, meant to be

[HAMILTON]

A colony that runs independently

Meanwhile, Britain keeps shittin' on us endlessly

Essentially, they tax us relentlessly

Then King George turns around and runs a spendin' spree

He ain't never gonna set his descendants free

So there will be a revolution in this century

Enter me,

[LAURENS, LAFAYETTE & MULLIGAN]

(He says in parentheses)

[HAMILTON]

Don't be shocked when your history book mentions me

I will lay down my life if it sets us free

Eventually, you'll see my ascendency

[HAMILTON] (LAURENS)

And I am not throwing away my shot! (My shot!)

I am not throwing away my shot! (My shot!)

Heyo, I'm just like my country,

I'm young scrappy, and hungry,

[HAMILTON + LAURENS]

And I'm not throwing away my shot!

[HAMILTON, LAURENS, LAFAYETTE, & MULLIGAN]

I am not throwing away my shot!

I am not throwing away my shot!

Heyo, I'm just like my country,

I'm young scrappy and hungry,

And I'm not throwing away my shot!

It's time to take a shot!

[LAFAYETTE]

I dream of life without the monarchy

The unrest in France will lead to 'onarchy

'Onarchy? How you say? How you...?

Oh, anarchy

When I fight, I make the other side panicky with my--

[LAFAYETTE, HAMILTON, LAURENS, & MULLIGAN]

Shot!

[MULLIGAN]

Yo, I'm a tailor's apprentice

And I got y'all knuckleheads in loco parentis

I'm joinin' the rebellion 'cause I know it's my chance to socially advance

Instead of sewin' some pants

[LAFAYETTE, HAMILTON, LAURENS, & MULLIGAN]

But we'll never be truly free

Unless those in bondage have the same rights as you and me

You and I, do or die, wait until I sally in on a stallion,

With the first black battalion

Have another

[LAFAYETTE, HAMILTON, LAURENS, & MULLIGAN]

Shot!

[BURR]

Geniuses, lower your voices,

You keep out of trouble and you double your choices.

I'm with you, but the situation is fraught

You've got to be carefully taught

If you talk you're gonna get shot!

[HAMILTON]

Burr, check what we got,

Mister Lafayette, hard rock like Lancelot

I think your pants look hot

Laurens, I like you a lot

Let's hatch a plot blacker than the kettle callin' in the pot

What are the odds the gods would put us all in one spot

Poppin' a squat on conventional wisdom, like it or not

A bunch of revolutionary manumission abolitionists,

Give me a position, show me where the ammunition is!

Oh, am I talking to loud?

Sometimes I get overexcited, shoot off at the mouth

I never had a group of friends before,

I promise that I'll make y'all proud.

[LAURENS]

Let's get this guy in front of a crowd!

[LAFAYETTE, HAMILTON, LAURENS, MULLIGAN, & ENSEMBLE]

I am not throwing away my shot

I am not throwing away my shot

Heyo, I'm just like my country,

I'm young, scrappy, and hungry,

And I am not throwing away my shot

I am not throwing away my shot

I am not throwing away my shot

Heyo, I'm just like my country,

I'm young, scrappy, and hungry,

And I am not throwing away my shot!