"What'd I Miss?" is the first song of Act Two of the musical Hamilton.
Beginning Act Two, Thomas Jefferson returns from his somewhat lengthy trip to France and trying to make himself helpful there. A friend of his, Madison, rants to him about Hamilton's financial plan, which he claims is "nothing less than government control"; the men will later find a way, along with Burr, to completely trash Hamilton's reputation.
Lyrics[]
[COMPANY]
Seventeen. Se- se- seventeen...
Se-se- seventeen...
[BURR]
1789
How does the bastard orphan
Immigrant decorated war vet
Unite the colonies through more debt?
Fight the other founding fathers til he has to forfeit?
Have it all, lose it all
You ready for more yet?
Treasury Secretary. Washington’s the President
Every American experiment sets a precedent
Not so fast. Someone came along to resist him
Pissed him off until we had a two-party system
You haven’t met him yet, you haven’t had the chance
‘cause he’s been kickin’ ass as the ambassador to France
But someone’s gotta keep the American promise
You simply must meet Thomas. Thomas!
[COMPANY]
Thomas Jefferson’s coming home!
Thomas Jefferson’s coming home!
Thomas Jefferson’s coming home!
Thomas Jefferson’s coming home!
Thomas Jefferson’s coming home, Lord he’s
Been off in Paris for so long
Aaa-ooo!
Aaa-ooo!
[JEFFERSON]
France is following us to revolution
There is no more status quo
But the sun comes up
And the world still spins
[ENSEMBLE]
Aaa-ooo!
[JEFFERSON]
I helped Lafayette draft a declaration
Then I said, ‘I gotta go
I gotta be in Monticello.'
Now the work at home begins...
[ENSEMBLE]
Aaa-ooo!
[JEFFERSON]
So what’d I miss?
What’d I miss?
Virginia, my home sweet home, I wanna give you a kiss
I’ve been in Paris meeting lots of different ladies...
I guess I basically missed the late eighties...
I traveled the wide, wide world and came back to this...
[ENSEMBLE]
Aaa-ooo!
[JEFFERSON]
There’s a letter on my desk from the President
Haven’t even put my bags down yet
Sally be a lamb, darlin’, won’t ya open it?
It says the President’s assembling a cabinet
And that I am to be the Secretary of State, great!
And that I’m already Senate-approved...
I just got home and now I’m headed up to New York
[ENSEMBLE]
Headin’ to New York!
Headin’ to New York!
[JEFFERSON]
Lookin’ at the rolling fields
I can’t believe that we are free
Ready to face
Whatever’s awaiting
Me in N.Y.C.
[ENSEMBLE]
Believe that we are free
[JEFFERSON]
But who’s waitin’ for me when I step in the place?
My friend James Madison, red in the face
[JEFFERSON]
He grabs my arm and
I respond
“What’s goin’ on?”
[ENSEMBLE]
Aaa-ooo!
[MADISON]
Thomas, we are engaged in a battle for our nation’s very soul
Can you get us out of the mess we’re in?
[ENSEMBLE]
Aaa-ooo!
[MADISON]
Hamilton’s new financial plan is nothing less
Than government control
I’ve been fighting for the South alone
Where have you been?
[ENSEMBLE]
Aaa-ooo!
[JEFFERSON]
Uh...France.
[MADISON]
We have to win
[JEFFERSON]
What’d I miss?
What’d I miss?
Headfirst into a political abyss!
I have my first cabinet meeting today
I guess I better think of something to say
I’m already on my way
Let’s get to the bottom of this...
[ENSEMBLE]
Wha? Wha? What’d I miss?
I’ve come home to this?
Headfirst, into the abyss!
Chik-a-pow!
On my way
What did I miss?
Ahhh ah!
[WASHINGTON]
Mr. Jefferson, welcome home-
[HAMILTON]
Mr. Jefferson? Alexander Hamilton
[WASHINGTON & ENSEMBLE]
Mr. Jefferson, welcome home
[COMPANY]
Mr. Jefferson, welcome home
Sir, you’ve been off in Paris for so long!
[JEFFERSON]
So what did I miss?
Gallery[]
