Hamilton Wiki
Register
Advertisement

"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 by 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 musical by directly asking the question repeatedly emphasized throughout the musical: "who lives, who dies, who tells your story?"

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 was a work of genius
I couldn't undo it if I tried
And... I tried

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

[AARON 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

[AARON BURR]
And when you're gone who remembers your name
Who keeps your flame
Who tells your story

[ENSEMBLE]'
Who tells your story

[ENSEMBLE WOMEN]
Eliza...

[ELIZA]
I put myself back in 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 AND MULLIGAN]
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 time

I rely on Angelica
While she's alive we tell your story
She is buried in Trinity Church near you
When I needed her most she was right on time

When I'm still not through
I ask myself what would you do if you had more time
The lord and his kindness, he gives me what you always wanted
He gives me more time

I raise funds in DC for the Washington Monument

[WASHINGTON]
She tells my story

[ELIZA]
I speak out against slavery
Oh, you could have done so much more if you only had time
And when my time is up
Have I done enough
Will they tell your story

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 raise hundreds of children
I get to see them growing up
In their eyes I see you, Alexander
I see you every time
And when my time is up
Have I done enough
Will they tell your story

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

[ENSEMBLE WOMEN]
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
Advertisement