Singers and Vocalists

All Time Hamilton’s Broadway Musical ‘One Shot’ Lyrics to Enjoy

Lin-Manuel Miranda, born on January 16, 1980, is a highly respected American songwriter, actor, and filmmaker. He created the musical Hamilton, which changed Broadway by bringing hip-hop music to the stage.

His first major success came with the musical In the Heights, which earned multiple Tony Awards. Miranda has received many honors, including a Pulitzer Prize and several Grammy Awards. He has written music for animated films like Moana and Encanto.

About the Song

“One Shot” is a strong song from Hamilton, focusing on taking chances and pushing forward.

The song shows Alexander Hamilton’s drive to succeed. Its fast-paced music and clear message help others see the value of each opportunity.

Details Information Release Date September 25, 2015 Album Hamilton: An American Musical Writers Lin-Manuel Miranda, Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II, Havoc, Prodigy, The Notorious B.I.G., Easy Mo Bee & Roger Troutman. Producers Lin-Manuel Miranda, ?uestlove, Black Thought, Bill Sherman & Alex Lacamoire.

My Shot Lyrics by Hamilton

Hamilton

I am not throwing away my shot
I am not throwing away my shot
Hey, yo, I’m just like my country
I’m young, scrappy and hungry
And I’m not throwing away my shot
I’ma get a scholarship to King’s College
I prob’ly shouldn’t brag, but dag, I amaze and astonish
The problem is I got a lot of brains, but no polish
I gotta holler just to be heard
With every word, I drop knowledge
I’m a diamond in the rough, a shiny piece of coal
Tryin’ to reach my goal, my power of speech unimpeachable
Only nineteen, but my mind is older
These New York City streets get colder, I shoulder
Ev’ry burden, ev’ry disadvantage
I have learned to manage, I don’t have a gun to brandish
I walk these streets famished
The plan is to fan this spark into a flame
But damn, it’s getting dark, so let me spell out the name
I am the—

Hamilton/lafayette/mulligan/laurens

A-L-E-X-A-N-D
E-R—we are—meant to be

Hamilton

A colony that runs independently
Meanwhile, Britain keeps shittin’ on us endlessly
Essentially, they tax us relentlessly
Then King George turns around, runs a spending spree
He ain’t ever gonna set his descendants free
So there will be a revolution in this century
Enter me

Lafayette/mulligan/laurens

(He says in parentheses)

Hamilton

Don’t be shocked when your hist’ry book mentions me
I will lay down my life if it sets us free
Eventually, you’ll see my ascendancy

Hamilton & Laurens

And I am not throwing away
My shot (My shot)
I am not throwing away
My shot (My shot)
Hey, yo, I’m just like my country
I’m young, scrappy and hungry
And I’m not throwing away my shot
And I’m not throwing away my shot

Hamilton/mulligan/laurens/lafayette

I am not throwing away my shot
I am not throwing away my shot
Hey, yo, I’m just like my country
I’m young, scrappy and hungry
And I’m not throwing away my shot
It’s time to take a shot

Lafayette

I dream of life without a monarchy
The unrest in France will lead to ‘onarchy?
‘Onarchy? How you say, how you s-oh, ‘anarchy!’
When I fight, I make the other side panicky
With my—

Hamilton/laurens/lafayette/mulligan

Shot

Mulligan

Yo, I’m a tailor’s apprentice
And I got y’all knuckleheads in loco parentis
I’m joining the rebellion ’cause I know it’s my chance
To socially advance, instead of sewin’ some pants
I’m gonna take a—

Hamilton/laurens/lafayette/mulligan

Shot

Laurens

But we’ll never be truly free
Until those in bondage have the same rights as you and me
You and I, do or die, wait ’til I sally in
On a stallion with the first black battalion
Have another—

Hamilton/laurens/lafayette/mulligan

Shot

Burr

Geniuses, lower your voices
You keep out of trouble and you double your choices
I’m with you, but the situation is fraught
You’ve got to be carefully taught
If you talk, you’re gonna get shot

Hamilton

Burr, check what we got
Mister Lafayette, hard rock like Lancelot
I think your pants look hot
Laurens, I like you a lot
Let’s hatch a plot blacker than the kettle callin’ the pot
What are the odds the gods would put us all in one spot
Poppin’ a squat on conventional wisdom, like it or not
A bunch of revolutionary manumission abolitionists?
Give me a position, show me where the ammunition is

Oh, am I talkin’ too loud?
Sometimes I get overexcited, shoot off at the mouth
I never had a group of friends before
I promise that I’ll make y’all proud

Laurens

Let’s get this guy in front of a crowd

Hamilton/laurens/lafayette/mulligan/ensemble

I am not throwing away my shot
I am not throwing away my shot
Hey, yo, I’m just like my country
I’m young, scrappy and hungry
And I’m not throwing away my shot

Laurens & Hamilton/lafayette/mulligan

Ev’rybody sing
Woah, woah, woah (Woah, woah, woah)
Hey
Woah (Woah)
Woo
Woah (Woah)
Said, let ’em hear ya (Yeah)
Let’s go

Laurens & Company

Woah, woah, woah
I said, shout it to the rooftops
Woah
Said, to the rooftops
Woah
Come on
Yeah
Come on, let’s go

Laurens

Rise up
When you’re living on your knees, you rise up
Tell your brother that he’s gotta rise up
Tell your sister that she’s gotta rise up

Laurens and Ensemble & Company

When are these colonies gonna rise up?
Woah, woah, woah
When are these colonies gonna rise up?
Woah
When are these colonies gonna rise up?
Woah
When are these colonies gonna rise up?
Woah
Rise up (Rise up)

Hamilton

I imagine death so much, it feels more like a memory
When’s it gonna get me?
In my sleep? Seven feet ahead of me?
If I see it comin’, do I run or do I let it be?
Is it like a beat without a melody?
See, I never thought I’d live past twenty
Where I come from, some get half as many
Ask anybody why we livin’ fast and we laugh, reach for a flask
We have to make this moment last, that’s plenty

Scratch that
This is not a moment, it’s the movement
Where all the hungriest brothers with
Something to prove went?
Foes oppose us, we take an honest stand
We roll like Moses, claimin’ our promised land
And? If we win our independence?
Is that a guarantee of freedom for our descendants?
Or will the blood we shed begin an endless
Cycle of vengeance and death with no defendants?
I know the action in the street is excitin’
But Jesus, between all the bleedin’ ‘n’ fightin’
I’ve been readin’ ‘n’ writin’
We need to handle our financial situation
Are we a nation of states? What’s the state of our nation?
I’m past patiently waitin’
I’m passionately smashin’ every expectation
Every action’s an act of creation
I’m laughin’ in the face of casualties and sorrow
For the first time, I’m thinkin’ past tomorrow

Hamilton and Company

And I am not throwing away my shot
I am not throwing away my shot
Hey, yo, I’m just like my country
I’m young, scrappy and hungry
And I’m not throwing away my shot

Hamilton/laurens/lafayette/mulligan & Ensemble

We’re gonna rise up, time to take a shot
Not throwing away my shot
We’re gonna rise up, time to take a shot
Not throwing away my shot
We’re gonna
We’re gonna

Hamilton & Ensemble

It’s time to take a shot (Rise up)

Hamilton/lafayette/laurens/mulligan & Ensemble

It’s time to take a shot (Rise up)
It’s time to take a shot (Rise up)
Take a shot, ri— ri— ri—
Shot
Shot
A-yo, it’s
Time to take a shot (Time to take a shot)
Time to take a shot (Time to take a shot)
And I am— (And I am)

Hamilton/lafayette/mulligan/laurens

Not throwin’ away my—

Company

Not throwin’ away my shot

Live Performance of My Shot by The Hamilton Cast

1. My Shot Live at White House (15 Mar 2016)

2. My Shot Live from The Graham Norton Show (20 Dec 2018)

Similar Songs Like My Shot by Hamilton

Here is a list of songs by Hamilton that share similar themes, musical elements, and emotional tones with “My Shot”:

“My Shot”: Hamilton tells his plans and wishes alongside other young fighters for freedom.
“Wait For It”: Aaron Burr explains his slower method, unlike Hamilton’s quick choices.
“The Room Where It Happens”: Burr describes when Hamilton, Jefferson, and Madison made deals about money.
“Non-Stop”: Shows how Hamilton keeps writing and working to build the country’s money system.
“Alexander Hamilton”: Opens by telling how Hamilton grew up and came to New York.
“Satisfied”: Angelica Schuyler thinks back to meeting Hamilton and bringing him to Eliza.
“The World Was Wide Enough”: Burr looks back at his final fight with Hamilton.
“Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story”: Eliza shares how she carried on Hamilton’s work.
“Dear Theodosia”: Burr and Hamilton express their love for their new babies.
“It’s Quiet Uptown”: Hamilton and Eliza try to heal after losing their son.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Did Hamilton Mean by My Shot?

In “My Shot,” Hamilton shows his strong desire to take chances and build his place in history.

How Long Did It Take for Lin Manuel Miranda to Write My Shot?

Lin-Manuel Miranda spent multiple years writing “My Shot,” starting when he first began working on Hamilton.

Why are There 47 Songs in Hamilton?

Hamilton has 47 songs to tell its full story and show how each character changes and grows.

What Does Don’t Throw Away Your Shot Mean?

“Don’t throw away your shot” tells us to take our chances and make the most of good opportunities when they come.

Casey Monroe

Casey focuses on writing about singers and vocal performers. They've been in this field for about 8 years. Casey's articles look at both the technical side of singing and the stories behind the artists. They studied music performance in college and worked as a vocal coach for a while. This background helps Casey explain complex singing ideas in ways that are easy to grasp. Casey likes to talk with singers from different genres to get a wide view of the singing world. When not writing, they often go to concerts and music festivals to stay up-to-date with live performances.

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