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Barack Obama Stars In Lin-Manuel Miranda’s ‘Hamilton’ Remix Of ‘One Last Time’

Barack Obama Stars In Lin-Manuel Miranda’s ‘Hamilton’ Remix Of ‘One Last Time’

Lin-Manuel Miranda, the author and star of the musical “Hamilton”, invited President Barack Obama to sing in the final track of the #HamilDrop series, saying goodbye to the year-long project with the help of 44 himself.

It was a feel-good moment during a horrible week in U.S. politics, and a reminder of “the golden days of 2015, when politics was less terrifying, the Nazis were gone forever, and all the good celebrities were still alive,” William Hughes wrote in an AV News report.


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Miranda announced the HamilDrop Series a year ago, promising new monthly “Hamilton” content through December 2018 to satisfy Hamil-heads hungry for new material after a sequel failed to materialize, Billboard reported in December 2017.

The song, “One Last Time,” lifts liberally from the first President George Washington’s farewell address to the nation. Delivered in 1796, the speech set enduring precedent by illustrating how Washington was walking away from celebrity, fame, and power in favor of civic humility, Hughes wrote.

Miranda introduced “Hamilton” the musical to most of the world in 2009 during Obama’s first term, performing the rap “Alexander Hamilton” — inspired by the founding fathers — during a White House poetry jam. That’s when Miranda got inspired to write his blockbuster hip-hop musical, “Hamilton: An American Musical,” LA Times reported.

Here’s how Miranda addressed the White House audience that night before singing. The rest is history:

I’m working on a hip-hop album — a concept album — about the life of somebody I think embodies hip hop: Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton. You laugh but it’s true. He was born a pennyless orphan in Saint Croix of illegitimate birth, became George Washington‘s right hand man, became treasury secretary, caught beef with every other founding father, and all on the strength of his writing. I think he embodies the word’s ability to make a difference. I’m going to be doing the first song from that tonight.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNFf7nMIGnE

Miranda performed “One Last Time” again during a farewell presentation for Obama in 2017.

This time around, the White House came to Miranda in the form of Obama, who joined Christopher Jackson and gospel star Bebe Winans in singing “One Last Time (44 Remix).” Obama read the lines of George Washington, reflecting on his own administration. Jackson echoed the words in the background.

President Barack Obama  (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

 

AV News’ Hughes described the Obama remix as ” a very weird mix of lingering hope and crushing despair; Washington’s message, after all, centers on the idea that men fade from history, but ideals and shared beliefs persist. That might be cold comfort in the dim political valley of 2018, but it’s a strong reminder that this, too, shall pass. Also, it’s pretty catchy (even if we’re kind of miffed that private citizen Barack couldn’t be talked into singing a few bars)”.

Here are the lyrics of “One Last Time”:

[HAMILTON]
Mr. President, you asked to see me?

[WASHINGTON]
I know you’re busy

[HAMILTON]
What do you need, sir? Sir?

[WASHINGTON]
I wanna give you a word of warning

[HAMILTON]
Sir, I don’t know what you heard
But whatever it is, Jefferson started it

[WASHINGTON]
Thomas Jefferson resigned this morning

[HAMILTON]
You’re kidding

[WASHINGTON]
I need a favor

[HAMILTON]
Whatever you say, sir, Jefferson will pay for his behavior

[WASHINGTON]
Shh. Talk less

[HAMILTON]
I’ll use the press
I’ll write under a pseudonym, you’ll see what I can do to him—

[WASHINGTON]
I need you to draft an address

[HAMILTON]
Yes! He resigned. You can finally speak your mind—

[WASHINGTON]
No, he’s stepping down so he can run for President

[HAMILTON]
Ha. Good luck defeating you, sir

[WASHINGTON]
I’m stepping down. I’m not running for President

[HAMILTON]
I’m sorry, what?

[WASHINGTON]
One last time
Relax, have a drink with me
One last time
Let’s take a break tonight
And then we’ll teach them how to say goodbye
To say goodbye
You and I

[HAMILTON]
No, sir, why?

[WASHINGTON]
I wanna talk about neutrality

[HAMILTON]
Sir, with Britain and France on the verge of war, is this the best time—

[WASHINGTON]
I want to warn against partisan fighting

[HAMILTON]
But—

[WASHINGTON]
Pick up a pen, start writing
I wanna talk about what I have learned
The hard-won wisdom I have earned

[HAMILTON]
As far as the people are concerned
You have to serve, you could continue to serve—

[WASHINGTON]
No! One last time
The people will hear from me
One last time
And if we get this right
We’re gonna teach ‘em how to say
Goodbye
You and I—

[HAMILTON]
Mr. President, they will say you’re weak

[WASHINGTON]
No, they will see we’re strong

[HAMILTON]
Your position is so unique

[WASHINGTON]
So I’ll use it to move them along

[HAMILTON]
Why do you have to say goodbye?

[WASHINGTON]
If I say goodbye, the nation learns to move on
It outlives me when I’m gone
Like the scripture says:
“Everyone shall sit under their own vine and fig tree
And no one shall make them afraid.”
They’ll be safe in the nation we’ve made
I wanna sit under my own vine and fig tree
A moment alone in the shade
At home in this nation we’ve made
One last time

[HAMILTON]
One last time

[HAMILTON]
Though, in reviewing the incidents of my administration, I am unconscious of intentional error, I am nevertheless too sensible of my defects not to think it probable that I may have committed many errors. I shall also carry with me

[HAMILTON & WASHINGTON]
The hope (The hope)
That my country will
View them with indulgence; (View them with indulgence)
And that
After forty-five years of my life dedicated to its service with an upright zeal (After forty-five years of my life dedicated to its service with an upright zeal)
The faults of incompetent abilities will be
Consigned to oblivion, as I myself must soon be to the mansions of rest (Consigned to oblivion, as I myself must soon be to the mansions of rest)
I anticipate with pleasing expectation that retreat in which I (I anticipate with pleasing expectation that retreat in which I)
Promise myself to realize the sweet enjoyment of partaking (Promise myself to realize the sweet enjoyment of partaking)
In the midst of my fellow-citizens, the benign influence of good laws (In the midst of my fellow-citizens, the benign influence of good laws)
Under a free government, the ever-favorite object of my heart, and the happy reward, as I trust (Under a free government, the ever-favorite object of my heart, and the happy reward, as I trust)
Of our mutual cares, labors, and dangers (Of our mutual cares, labors, and dangers)

[WASHINGTON]
One last time

[ALL WOMEN]
George Washington’s going home!

[HAMILTON]
Teach ‘em how to say goodbye

[COMPANY]
George Washington’s going home

[WASHINGTON]
You and I

[COMPANY]
George Washington’s going home

[WASHINGTON]
Going home

[COMPANY]
George Washington’s going home

[WASHINGTON]
History has its eyes on you

[COMPANY]
George Washington’s going home

[WASHINGTON & COMPANY]
We’re gonna teach ‘em how to
Say goodbye! (Teach ‘em how to say goodbye!)
Teach ‘em how to (Teach ‘em how!)
Say goodbye! (Say goodbye!)
To say goodbye! (Say goodbye!)
Say goodbye!
One last time! (One last time!)

https://twitter.com/DLove1718/status/1075985856412958720

https://twitter.com/hannah_czap/status/1076001833611608064