Alexander Hamiltunes

PBS just released an extended trailer for the upcoming documentary, “Hamilton’s America”. Any documentary that features Lin-Manuel, George W. Bush, Nas, Elizabeth Warren, and Barack Obama is something I am officially there for.

Lin-Manuel Miranda showed up for a talk at the school his nephews attend, because a kid in their class didn’t believe he was actually their uncle. “So am I here to prove him wrong...and the rest is just gravy.”

Here’s the official description from the video the school posted to YouTube:

“Hamilton's friend Nathaniel Pendleton sat him against a boulder and a doctor named David Hosack examined him. Hamilton struggled to say: 'This is a mortal wound, doctor.'  

Hosack and Pendleton carried their unconscious friend into a rowing boat, hoping to make it across New York harbor in time for him to get medical attention. They sprawled Hamilton across the bottom of the boat and one account has him regaining consciousness for a moment to say: 'My vision is indistinct... Take care of that pistol. It is undischarged and still cocked. It may go off and do harm. Pendleton knows that I did not intend to fire at him.'

When the boat reached Manhattan, Hamilton supposedly told a doctor: 'Let Mrs Hamilton be immediately sent for. Let the event be gradually broken to her, but given her hopes.' He continued speaking, and told a priest: 'I have no ill will against colonel Burr. I met him with a fixed resolution to do him no harm. I forgive all that happened.'

Apparently, he continued to speak with great difficulty for several hours. It is fitting that a man who drowned his political opponents in an enormous quantity of pro-federalist argument should have spoken for a long time and with great composure. Accounts of Hamilton's last words differ. Significantly, though, this man with much to say refused to go quietly.”

“You know, this whole thing started as an accident...and now it’s turned into this.”

—Lin-Manuel Miranda, at the start of his very last #Ham4Ham

It’s here, and it’s glorious!

“He looks me in the eyes and says: ‘You’re trying to avoid going through pain, or causing pain. I’m here to tell you that you’ll have to survive it if you want to be any kind of artist.’” 

—Lin Manuel Miranda, delivered a brilliant commencement speech this morning at the University of Pennsylvania (which he wrote last night, because of course he did). I’ll post the full text once it’s available - but for now here’s the video of the full ceremony (with Lin’s speech starting about 2 1/2 hours in).

Lin Manuel & The Skivvies perform a cover of Outkast’s “Hey Ya” in their pajamas.