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"Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story" is the 23rd and final song of Act Two of the musical Hamilton. It is the 46th song and the finale of the entire musical.

The company of Hamilton ends the musical with Eliza explaining the remainder of events after Alexander Hamilton's death: including her founding of the first private orphanage in New York City, and contributions in collecting funds for the Washington Monument. She helps recognize famous faces in history, such as presidents George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. She reviews Alexander's pages of writings and cannot imagine how he writes like he is "running out of time". Eliza wonders how much more Hamilton could have accomplished if he had what he wanted most: time.

The company ends the song with their direct question repeatedly emphasizing throughout the musical: "who lives, who dies, who tells your story?", which finishes off the musical with Hamilton sending Eliza a handshake, as the latter turns towards the audience and lets out a tearful gasp, breaking the fourth wall.

Lyrics[]

[WASHINGTON]
Let me tell you what I wished I'd known
When I was young and dreamed of glory
You have no control

[ENSEMBLE]
Who lives, who dies, who tells your story

[AARON BURR]
President Jefferson

[JEFFERSON]
I'll give him this
His financial system is a work of genius
I couldn't undo it if I tried
And... I tried

[ENSEMBLE]
Who lives, who dies, who tells your story

[BURR]
President Madison

[MADISON]
He took our country from bankruptcy to prosperity
I hate to admit it
But he doesn't get enough credit for all the credit he gave us

[ENSEMBLE]
Who lives, who dies, who tells your story

[ANGELICA]
Every other founding father's story gets told
Every other founding father gets to grow old

[BURR]
But when you're gone, who remembers your name?
Who keeps your flame?
Who tells your story?

[ENSEMBLE]
Who tells your story? (x2)

[ENSEMBLE WOMEN]
Eliza...

[ELIZA]
I put myself back in the narrative

[ENSEMBLE WOMEN]
Eliza...

[ELIZA]
I stop wasting time on tears
I live another fifty years
It's not enough

[ENSEMBLE WOMEN]
Eliza...

[ELIZA]
I interview every soldier who fought by your side

[LAFAYETTE/MULLIGAN/LAURENS]
She tells our story

[ELIZA]
I try to make sense of your thousands of pages of writings
You really do you write like you're running out of

[ELIZA & ENSEMBLE]
Time

[ELIZA]
I rely on

[ELIZA & ANGELICA]
Angelica

[ELIZA]
While she's alive

[ELIZA & ANGELICA]
We tell your story

[ELIZA]
She is buried in Trinity Church

[ELIZA & ANGELICA]
Near you

[ELIZA]
When I needed her most, she was right on

[ELIZA & ENSEMBLE]
Time

[ELIZA]
And I'm still not through
I ask myself what would you do if you had more

[ELIZA & ENSEMBLE]
Time?

[ELIZA]
The Lord, in his kindness, he gives me what you always wanted
He gives me more

[ELIZA & ENSEMBLE]
Time

[ELIZA]
I raise funds in D.C. for the Washington Monument

[WASHINGTON]
She tells my story

[ELIZA]
I speak out against slavery
You could have done so much more if you only had

[ELIZA & ENSEMBLE]
Time

[ELIZA]
And when my time is up
Have I done enough?
Will they tell our story?

[ENSEMBLE]
Will they tell your story?

[ELIZA]
Oh, can I show you what I'm proudest of?

[ENSEMBLE WOMEN]
The orphanage...

[ELIZA]
I established the first private orphanage in New York City

[ENSEMBLE WOMEN]
The orphanage...

[ELIZA]
I help to raise hundreds of children
I get to see them growing up

[ENSEMBLE]
The orphanage...

[ELIZA]
In their eyes I see you, Alexander
I see you every

[ELIZA & ENSEMBLE]
Time

[ELIZA]
And when my time is up
Have I done enough?
Will they tell my story?

[ENSEMBLE]
Will they tell your story?

[ELIZA]
Oh, I can't wait to see you again
It's only a matter of time

[ENSEMBLE]
Time....

Will they tell your story?

Time...

Who lives, who dies, who tells your story?

Time...

Will they tell your story?

Time...

Who lives, who dies, who tells your story?

Gallery[]

Songs in Hamilton (Broadway Production)
Act One
Alexander Hamilton
Aaron Burr, Sir
My Shot
The Story of Tonight
The Schuyler Sisters
Farmer Refuted
You'll Be Back
Right Hand Man
A Winter's Ball
Helpless
Satisfied
The Story of Tonight (Reprise)
Wait For It
Stay Alive
Ten Duel Commandments
Meet Me Inside
That Would Be Enough
Guns And Ships
History Has Its Eyes On You
Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down)
What Comes Next?
Dear Theodosia
Tomorrow There'll Be More Of Us
Non-Stop
Act Two
What'd I Miss
Cabinet Battle #1
Take A Break
Say No To This
The Room Where It Happens
Schuyler Defeated
Cabinet Battle #2
Washington On Your Side
One Last Time
I Know Him
The Adams Administration
We Know
Hurricane
The Reynolds Pamphlet
Burn
Blow Us All Away
Stay Alive (Reprise)
It's Quiet Uptown
The Election of 1800
Your Obedient Servant
Best of Wives and Best of Women
The World Was Wide Enough
Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story
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