Why the Opening Notes Matter
Honestly, that first cello pluck is iconic. You know the one. It’s a rhythmic, ticking tension that feels like a heartbeat or a clock running out. Before a single word of the Alexander Hamilton lyrics first song is even uttered, Lin-Manuel Miranda is already telling you that time is the enemy.
Most people don't realize those opening notes actually mirror the rhythm of the phrase "I am not throwing away my shot." It is a subtle, almost hidden piece of foreshadowing that links Hamilton's beginning to his eventual end.
The song serves as a four-minute biography. It’s dense. It’s fast. If you blink, you miss about three years of Caribbean history and at least two major character introductions.
Breaking Down the Exposition
The track starts with Aaron Burr. It’s kinda poetic that the man who kills him is the one who introduces him. He asks the big question: how does a "bastard, orphan, son of a whore" become a hero and a scholar?
It’s a brutal opening line.
But it sets the stage for the recurring theme of Hamilton being an outsider. The lyrics move through his childhood at breakneck speed. You've got the hurricane in St. Croix, which actually happened in 1772. Hamilton wrote a letter about it that was so good, the locals literally raised money to get him off the island.
"Put a pencil to his temple, connected it to his brain, and he wrote his first refrain, a testament to his pain."
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That line isn't just a clever rhyme. It’s the mission statement for the whole show. Writing was his way out. It was his weapon.
The Character "Greek Chorus"
In the Alexander Hamilton lyrics first song, the ensemble acts like a Greek chorus. Everyone on stage is a narrator. You see John Laurens, Lafayette, and Hercules Mulligan all stepping forward to give their piece of the story.
Wait.
Look closer at who is saying what. In the first act, the actors playing Lafayette and Mulligan tell us they fought with him. In the second act, those same actors play Jefferson and Madison—men who fought against him. The lyrics "We fought with him" have a double meaning that hits you once you realize the casting choices aren't accidental.
Even the way the characters describe him is telling.
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- Laurens calls him a "self-starter."
- Jefferson mentions the "slaves being slaughtered" in the background of Hamilton’s rise.
- Madison focuses on the "pain" and the writing.
It’s a masterclass in efficient storytelling. You learn who Hamilton is, but more importantly, you learn how the world perceived him: ambitious, brilliant, and incredibly polarizing.
Small Details You Might Have Missed
There is a specific line about Hamilton’s mother, Rachel Faucette. The lyrics describe them both being "bed-ridden" and "half-dead." This isn't just dramatic flair. They both contracted a severe fever; Alexander survived, but his mother died next to him.
The song mentions he moved in with a cousin who then committed suicide. This left him with "ruined pride." Basically, by the time he hits New York, he has nothing left to lose.
This brings us to the most famous "spoiler" in musical theater history.
Burr looks the audience dead in the eye and says, "Me? I’m the damn fool that shot him." Miranda does this to get the "what happened" out of the way immediately. He wants you to focus on the "how" and the "why."
How to Analyze the Rhyme Schemes
If you’re a nerd for linguistics, this song is a goldmine. Miranda uses a lot of internal rhymes and multisyllabic patterns.
- Squalor rhymes with scholar.
- Father rhymes with farther, harder, smarter, and starter.
He’s using the language of hip-hop to elevate a historical figure who was, quite frankly, obsessed with words. The "ten-dollar Founding Father" line is a nod to his face being on the currency we use every day, making him a "face we see every day and rarely consider."
The Impact of the First Song
When this was first performed at the White House in 2009, people laughed. They thought a rap about the Secretary of the Treasury was a joke. By the time the song ended, the room was silent.
The Alexander Hamilton lyrics first song works because it validates the immigrant experience. It’s about "the mainland" and "getting your education." It’s a story of upward mobility through sheer force of will.
Actionable Takeaways for Superfans
If you want to appreciate the opening number on a deeper level next time you listen, try these three things:
- Watch the staging: Notice how the characters who die during the show (Laurens, Philip, Hamilton) are positioned differently than those who survive.
- Listen for the "Just You Wait" motif: This phrase repeats throughout the musical, and its meaning changes from a promise of greatness to a warning of impending doom.
- Read the 1772 letter: Look up the actual letter Hamilton wrote about the hurricane. You can see exactly where Lin-Manuel Miranda pulled the "testament to his pain" inspiration.
The song doesn't just start the play; it encapsulates the entire American project: messy, loud, and full of people trying to write their way into history.