Cabinet Battle #1 Lyrics – Hamilton

Song Overview

Song Credits

• Featured: Christopher Jackson, Daveed Diggs, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Okieriete Onaodowan
• Producers: Bill Sherman, ?uestlove, Black Thought, Alex Lacamoire, Lin-Manuel Miranda
• Composers: Lin-Manuel Miranda, Sylvia Robinson, Grandmaster Melle Mel, Duke Bootee, Clifton “Jiggs” Chase
• Release Date: September 25, 2015
• Genre: Broadway, Rap, Hip Hop, Musical Theatre
• Instruments: Violin, Viola, Synthesizer, Percussion, Harp, Guitar, Drums, Cello, Bass, Banjo, Keyboards
• Label: Atlantic Records
• Length: 3:55
• Album: Hamilton: An American Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording)
• Language: English
• Music Style: Narrative Musical Fusion, Political Satire through Rap
• Recorded At: Avatar Studios
• Copyrights © Warner Music Group, Universal Music Group, Sugar Hill Music Publishing

Song Meaning and Annotations

This isn’t just Washington calling order—it’s a curtain lift, a crowd-hyping hook. The line is borrowed from rap battle culture, echoing intros like Jay-Z’s in Izzo. It signals that we’re about to witness more than just politics—we’re watching a war of words that could reshape the country.

[Stage whisper: The crowd isn’t just in the room. It’s every citizen, past and present, leaning in.]

‘Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.’

Jefferson flexes early, quoting a phrase that’s more American scripture than sentence. He's not just name-dropping ideals—he’s saying: “I wrote the rules you’re all trying to play by.” That’s ego wrapped in a patriotic bow.

But here’s the twist—Jefferson’s claim to those words? Not entirely clean. According to Ron Chernow, he didn’t trumpet his authorship until it was politically convenient. So when he steps up like a champion of rights, it hits with both truth and artifice.

Place your bets as to who that benefits:

Jefferson tosses this line like a jab—but it’s also a charge. He’s accusing Hamilton of designing the debt plan not for unity, but for gain. Who gains the most? According to Jefferson, the feds—and Hamilton himself.

The gamble here isn’t rhetorical—it’s economic warfare. High stakes. All chips in.

If New York’s in debt, why should Virginia bear it?

Jefferson’s stance is blunt: “We paid our dues. Don’t make us bail you out.” This isn’t just financial—it's regional pride turned policy. He paints Virginia as self-reliant and New York as freeloading.

Of course, this ignores deeper structural issues. The South, including Jefferson’s Virginia, had certain... unpaid labor advantages. Hamilton’s retort? Ironic and cutting.

We plant seeds in the ground, we create.

Jefferson praises agriculture, his ideal America rooted in soil and self-sufficiency. But Hamilton sees past the bucolic imagery: “Yeah, keep ranting. We know who’s really doing the planting.”

This line slashes through Jefferson’s romanticism, revealing the brutal truth—those seeds were sown by slaves.

This financial plan is an outrageous demand… too many damn pages for any man to understand

Jefferson mocks the complexity of Hamilton’s proposal. It’s too long, too dense. This mirrors modern gripes against legislation like the Affordable Care Act—bureaucracy as villain.

But the irony? Hamilton’s dense, page-heavy plans built the bones of the U.S. financial system. Hard to skim. Harder to ignore.

Pray to God we never see Hamilton’s candidacy

It’s a diss. It’s a warning. Jefferson paints Hamilton as dangerous—not just for his ideas, but for his ambition. And yet, fate proves ironic: Hamilton’s own writings, the infamous Reynolds Pamphlet, would destroy his presidential chances. Jefferson’s prayer? Answered.

Imagine what gon’ happen when you try to tax our whisky

This line foreshadows the Whiskey Rebellion—real history, distilled into a verse. Hamilton’s whiskey tax was meant to raise revenue and curb alcohol use, but to farmers, it felt like tyranny. Jefferson throws it down like a threat—tax us, and we’ll rise again.

A civics lesson from a slaver.

Hamilton punches hard here. He calls out Jefferson’s hypocrisy: preaching liberty while owning slaves. This is more than insult—it’s exposure.

And it’s deeply cathartic. As Lin-Manuel Miranda put it, this is the line we wish we could shout back through history.

We know who’s really doing the planting

A double burn. Hamilton not only strikes Jefferson’s plantation pride, he alludes—subtly, sharply—to Jefferson’s rumored relationship with Sally Hemings. The word “planting” doesn’t just mean agriculture here.

You didn’t fight in it

Hamilton calls out Jefferson’s absence from the battlefield. It’s a shot at character—you talk the talk, but we marched through blood.

Historically, Jefferson was governor during the war but famously fled Monticello when the British approached. This line—dismissive, biting—strips away any heroic veneer.

We almost died in the trench / While you were off getting high with the French

The wordplay is cheeky, but the insult is loaded. Jefferson wasn’t literally toking up, but the reference to hemp and France conjures images of luxury, escape, and indifference. Hamilton’s painting him as a philosophizing coward.

Reticent—there isn’t a plan he doesn’t jettison

Hamilton’s flow goes tight and rhythmic here, but the content is sharp: Jefferson doesn’t commit. He’s indecisive. Good at critique, terrible at follow-through.

Madison, you’re mad as a hatter, son, take your medicine

We veer into the absurd—Hamilton mocks Madison’s health, likely epilepsy or anxiety. This is cruel, exaggerated bravado—and it backfires. The insult lands low, even as the crowd howls. We begin to sense: Hamilton’s brilliance is becoming belligerence.

Sittin’ there useless as two shits

Crude. Brutal. But unforgettable. Hamilton's disdain boils over—he sees Jefferson and Madison as obstacles, not opponents. He’s not debating anymore. He’s flaming out.

Turn around, bend over, I’ll show you where my shoe fits

A callback to Jefferson’s earlier jab—

If the shoe fits, wear it.

Winning was easy, young man. Governing’s harder

This is Washington, father-figure and realist. He sees Hamilton's passion—and how it’s burning bridges. The revolution is over. The new fight is compromise.

They don’t have a plan, they just hate mine

Hamilton’s frustration crests. He’s not just battling ideas—he’s battling inertia. But Washington, ever the anchor, pulls him back to earth: You want this to work? Convince them.

Figure it out, Alexander. That’s an order from your commander

The room chills. No more banter, no more bars. This is a command—military, personal, final. Washington isn’t asking. He’s reminding Hamilton where his loyalty lies.

And just like that, the battle ends—not with a mic drop, but with a leader’s order.

These Virginians are birds of a feather

Hamilton is taunting a clan of fate—the Southern politicians all singing from the same hymn sheet. It’s a pointed swipe: unity or bias?

He sees patterns; Washington feels the sting.

Young man, I’m from Virginia, so watch your mouth

Washington drops the parental hammer. A reminder that politics isn’t just policy—it’s respect, hierarchy, diplomacy disguised in lineage.

Even Hamilton’s mentor won't let him break the code.

So we let Congress get held hostage by the South?

Hamilton challenges the grip Southern states have on power. It’s raw, uncompromising—I want results, not redistricting.

The Constitution was meant to balance. He’s calling foul—Washington says find the teammates.

No, we need bold strokes. We need this plan.

Hamilton doubles down: incremental won't cut it. His vision is sweeping—but in politics, sweeping means alienating.

They’re being intransigent

He calls them stubborn. But Washington sees it as immaturity—it’s not about who’s right, but whether there's a bridge to cross.

Convince them otherwise

Washington isn’t giving in—he’s coaching Hamilton. Strategy over strength. Words over ire.

What happens if I don’t get congressional approval?

Here, Hamilton confronts uncertainty. No victory speech—just the fear of failure. He’s staring at possible political oblivion.

I imagine they’ll call for your removal

Washington answers with gravity: failure isn’t just a loss—it’s a downfall. The stakes of this battle? Nothing less than legacy and position.

Figure it out, Alexander. That’s an order from your commander

The finale lands with military precision. It’s not only history speaking—it’s mentorship. One man’s vision meets another’s command.

And that brings us to intermission—hearts pounding, stakes laid bare. Politics isn’t a game. It’s a battleground.

The Revolutionary Rap Battle

Opening Blast

[WASHINGTON] Ladies and gentlemen, you coulda been anywhere in the world tonight, but you’re here with us in New York City. Are you ready for a cabinet meeting???

Jefferson’s Southern Swagger

“But Hamilton forgets / His plan would have the government assume state’s debts”

“In Virginia, we plant seeds in the ground / We create. You just wanna move our money around”

Hamilton Fires Back

“A civics lesson from a slaver. Hey neighbor / Your debts are paid cuz you don’t pay for labor”

“We almost died in the trench / While you were off getting high with the French”

Behind the Bars

“Winning was easy, young man. Governing’s harder.”

Similar Songs

1. "My Shot" – Lin-Manuel Miranda: Another cornerstone of *Hamilton*, this song captures the same revolutionary swagger and ambition. While “Cabinet Battle #1” pits ideologies, “My Shot” is about personal ascendancy. Both feature relentless rhymes and historical references, but “My Shot” builds the myth of Hamilton, while “Cabinet Battle #1” dissects his politics.
2. "Fight the Power" – Public Enemy: Both are acts of rebellion. Public Enemy’s anthem charges against systemic injustice, and Hamilton’s battle takes aim at political hypocrisy. They’re separated by centuries, but united in tone and purpose: truth as a weapon, rhyme as a revolution.
3. "Lose Yourself" – Eminem: Structurally and thematically aligned. Both songs revolve around seizing critical moments. Eminem’s track is personal do-or-die. Hamilton’s battle is political life-or-death. But in both, the beat surges like adrenaline, and the words cut deep.

Questions and Answers

What historical event is dramatized in “Cabinet Battle #1”?

It fictionalizes the intense debate over the federal government assuming state debts post-Revolution, turning it into a modern rap showdown.

Why is Jefferson portrayed as opposed to Hamilton’s plan?

Jefferson, representing the South, fears centralization and resents bailing out Northern states. His agrarian pride clashes with Hamilton’s urban financial strategies.

How is rap used as a narrative device here?

It frames political discourse with contemporary cadence, making 18th-century policy battles accessible, rhythmic, and confrontational, echoing hip-hop battle culture.

What’s the significance of Hamilton’s “slaver” remark?

It exposes Jefferson’s reliance on enslaved labor while claiming moral superiority, showing Hamilton’s rhetorical sharpness and the moral complexities of the founding fathers.

Is “Cabinet Battle #1” historically accurate?

While dramatized and modernized, it’s rooted in factual political conflict. The raps are fictional, but the ideologies and stakes reflect real historical tensions.

Fan and Media Reactions

“This is the hardest rap battle in history class I’ve ever heard.”

“Daveed Diggs destroys with every line. That Jefferson swagger is unmatched.”

“I got chills when Hamilton said ‘you don’t pay for labor.’ That hit like a punch.”

“Lin-Manuel Miranda is a genius. He made politics from the 1790s sound like a mixtape drop.”

“Hamilton is basically the Jay-Z of the Founding Fathers.”