Burn Lyrics > Hamilton

Exploring the Depths of "Burn" from Hamilton

Song Credits:

• Artist(s): Phillipa Soo
• Producer(s): Bill Sherman, Black Thought, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Alex Lacamoire, Questlove (Ahmir Khalib Thompson)
• Composer: Lin-Manuel Miranda
• Writer: Lin-Manuel Miranda
• Release Date: September 25, 2015
• Label: Atlantic Records
• Musical Genre: Show tune
• Album: Hamilton (Original Broadway Cast Recording)
• Track #: 38
• Language(s): English
• Mood: Heartbroken, Reflective

Song Meaning:

Eliza Hamilton's "Burn" is a deeply emotional piece that serves as her response to Alexander Hamilton's betrayal. This song captures the devastation of learning about his infidelity and the subsequent public scandal that ruined their personal life.

The musical pattern in the play "Burn" stands in comparison and contrast to the opening track "Alexander Hamilton." The musical pattern is almost identical repurposing of the chord progression from that song with a few exceptions of walking bass lines that are different. The first track has a strong beat, an almost militant certainty and optimism about Alexander's character, while this track slows and whirls for a more reflective and tragic depiction of doubt and acrimony against him. This change comes from the voice of Hamilton's most ardent supporter.

In the last three lines, you can physically see the damage that Hamilton's infidelity has caused to Eliza and their relationship; she goes from being certain of their love to accusatory, to regretful and knowing that she had thought wrong. An early draft of the song to introduce Eliza's romance with Hamilton was called "This One's Mine," though it was cut and replaced with "Helpless." Eliza still repeatedly calls Hamilton 'mine.' Angelica continues to act as Eliza's speaking voice and interpreter throughout the play. It is not until Eliza's later lyric that she is "erasing [herself] from the narrative" that the audience sees that she is not her sister's helpless sidekick but rather a person with agency in her own right, who has her own ways to pull the strings.

Throughout the play, Angelica always has a clearer understanding of Hamilton and his motives than Eliza does. In "Satisfied," she knows that part of his attraction to her and Eliza is their position in society and recognizing that marriage alone will not be enough to make him satisfied with his life. However, Angelica misses the mark with this analysis; throughout the rest of the show, it is clear that Hamilton was ready to die from the time he was 14 years old.

Eliza's repeated refrain "stay alive / that would be enough" stands as a sort of rebuke or counterweight both to Angelica's skepticism and Alexander's fatalism. The sequences of false rhyme, assonance, and consonance (senses/sentences/defenseless and palaces/paragraphs) embody some of Eliza's most intricate lyrics. As a character who is portrayed as naive and sweet (and 'helpless'), it is fitting that when she claims her agency, her self-expression becomes more complex.

In the song "Helpless," Hamilton sends Eliza several love letters in the hopes that she will give into her fear of marrying someone so poor and naive (coming from an extremely wealthy and influential family). As we see in "Helpless," Hamilton helped Eliza break out of her shell. She now feels abandoned by who she felt was the only person who trusted her. To try to make sense of everything, Eliza scans the love notes Hamilton sent her years ago to try to find any sign that he might abandon her or any reason she should distrust him. He doesn't find any, which just makes her more upset.

In a letter from Alexander Hamilton on March 17, 1780, he writes "Tis from circumstances like these we best discover the true sentiments of the heart. Yours upon every occasion testifies that it is entirely mine."

In the song "Burn," Eliza uses the term "burn" to refer to the rise and fall of her relationship with Hamilton, changing its meaning throughout the song. She claims the world seemed to burn, meaning she was on fire with her passion for her future husband. She also refers to the tangible burning of the letters and his reputation in the eyes of the public. Lastly, she hopes he burns, this time meaning his political career.

Eliza is very religious and by the end of this song, she is hoping Hamilton will burn and pay for his sins. The line "What's a fire and why does it – what's the word? Burn?" is similar to the line from "Part of Your World" sung by Ariel in that film.

Hamilton printed the Reynolds Pamphlet for public consumption to defend himself, but he included as appendices the letters that Maria and James Reynolds wrote to him. In the show, Eliza has been absent since "Schuyler Defeated." Now that she is back, her first direct comment on the affair isn't even on the adultery itself, but on Hamilton's mortifying publication—a much later blunder that Hamilton definitely could have avoided.

Eliza rejects the easy option of blaming everything on Maria and letting Hamilton off easy. She only calls her "this girl," which increases the onus put on Alexander. Maria isn't a "bitch" or a seductress or a con artist, or even a woman, but a mere girl—naive, unwise, powerless—and Alexander should have known better. Not only were Alexander's political prospects ruined and his reputation damaged, but Eliza's reputation suffered as well.

Angelica sent a letter to Eliza with a similar line (emphasis in original):

Merit, virtue, and talents must have enemies and [are] always exposed to envy so that, my dear Eliza, you see the penalties attending the position of so amiable a man. All this you would not have suffered if you had married into a family less near the sun.

The same talent Hamilton displays with the pen which was earlier used to woo her heart is now recognized by Eliza as a tool of manipulation and deceit. It's also an indication of Eliza's growing understanding of her husband. She attacks him in the one place she knows will really hurt him: his writing ability.

Eliza trails off without finishing her sentence. The way this is sung, and how Eliza might have completed it is open to the audience's interpretation. In context, none of the interpretations would be flattering for Hamilton, and on its own, the lyric paints him as self-absorbed.

Eliza has always known Hamilton was a little self-involved—after all, she didn't tell him about her pregnancy because she knew he was more focused on the revolution. But here, she seems to finally realize that the compromises she's made living with a selfish but brilliant man didn't break in her favor. She thought he was hers, but he was first and foremost his own.

In "That Would Be Enough," a younger, more optimistic Eliza sings:

Let me be a part of the narrative in the story they will write someday. Let this moment be the first chapter:

where do you decide to stay and I could be enough. This song is a show stopper, stopping the show to allow Eliza her moment and stopping Alexander in his path of self-destruction for legacy.

Eliza's letter to Alexander Hamilton, which is a part of the play "The Schuyler Sisters," is a poignant reminder of the importance of choices in shaping one's life and the future of history. The play highlights the significance of Eliza's decision to remain relatively unknown, as she acknowledges her connection to a life that will be retold in history books. This act of self-definition is exemplified by Eliza's decision to set a paper on fire with a candle, leaving no records of her love with him and leaving no counterbalance to the sordid letters with Maria.

Eliza's letters have gone missing from history, but we still have over 100 of them, including many sweet ones from their courtship. The words "you forfeit" in this line are sung in an echo of Eliza's name motif that first appears in "The Schuyler Sisters." By declaring that the world has no rights to her heart or place in her bed, Eliza suggests that Alexander has forfeited his rights to her heart and bed. By cheating on her, Alexander has reduced himself from a loving husband to just another anonymous member of the world, with no more right to know her mind than anyone else.

History and Inspiration: The song is based on historical events surrounding Eliza Hamilton’s decision to destroy her personal letters with Alexander, effectively erasing her perspective from history. This moment is Lin-Manuel Miranda’s way of emphasizing the power of silence in shaping historical narratives.

Composition and Style: "Burn" stands out due to its minimal instrumentation, allowing Phillipa Soo’s vocal performance to carry the raw emotion of Eliza’s heartbreak. The song is composed in 6/8 time, contrasting the strong 4/4 rhythm of "Alexander Hamilton," symbolizing the shift in Eliza’s view of her husband.

• Opening Lines: Eliza reminisces about their early love, contrasting it with her present heartbreak.
• Angelica’s Warning: She recalls her sister’s caution about Hamilton’s ambition, acknowledging the missed warning signs.
• Burning the Letters: Eliza symbolically takes control of her own narrative by erasing their written history.
• Erasing Herself: She deliberately removes herself from Hamilton’s story, ensuring that future generations will not fully understand her suffering.

Songs Sharing Similar Themes:

1. "I Can't Make You Love Me" by Bonnie Raitt: This song captures the sadness of unreciprocated love, similar to Eliza’s realization that her love and loyalty were not enough to keep her marriage from crumbling.
2. "Someone Like You" by Adele: Adele’s ballad about lost love and coming to terms with heartbreak shares emotional weight with "Burn," as both songs explore the pain of moving on from betrayal.
3. "Back to Black" by Amy Winehouse: Winehouse’s song about infidelity and heartbreak mirrors Eliza’s feelings of devastation, making it a fitting comparison.

Questions and Answers:

Why did Eliza choose to burn the letters?

By burning the letters, Eliza reclaimed control over her own narrative, ensuring that her emotions and perspective would remain private, rather than being scrutinized by history.

How does "Burn" contrast with Eliza’s earlier song "Helpless"?

"Helpless" portrays the beginning of Eliza and Hamilton’s romance, full of love and admiration, while "Burn" reflects the tragic downfall of their relationship due to betrayal.

What is the significance of Eliza erasing herself from the narrative?

Eliza’s decision to remove herself highlights the absence of women’s voices in historical records and serves as a powerful act of defiance against Hamilton’s obsession with legacy.

Awards and Chart Positions:

• The Hamilton soundtrack, which includes "Burn," won the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album.
• "Burn" was certified Gold by the RIAA on April 4, 2019.

Fan and Media Reactions:

"Soo’s performance in 'Burn' is a masterclass in conveying complex emotions, leaving audiences profoundly moved."