Have you heard “It’s Quiet Uptown” from the musical, Hamilton? Thank you, Mary and Shenne, for leading me to this song. I hadn’t heard it before you mentioned it. Now, I listen to it all the time. I feel very understood by the lyrics. It puts into words and music what I’ve been struggling to describe, that we are learning to live with the unimaginable.
Alexander and Eliza Hamilton lost their 19 year-old son in a pistol duel. Phillip was fighting to defend his father’s honor. I’m sure, for a while, losing their son tore their family apart.
I think the image in this song that haunts me most is that of Alexander Hamilton, walking by himself, talking to himself:
I spend hours in the garden
I walk alone to the store
And it’s quiet uptown
I never liked the quiet before.
Losing Dragon has changed us. How could it not? Part of me died when Dragon died. Part of Daniel died too. It is a grief that Daniel and I share, but also, something we’ve also had to experience separately. It’s been hard for me to see my husband’s broken heart.
If you haven’t heard it yet, you can hear the song online:
Broadway musical (2015)
Hamilton the Musical – It’s Quiet Uptown Lyrics
ANGELICA:
There are moments that the words don’t reach
There is suffering too terrible to name
You hold your child as tight as you can
And push away the unimaginable
The moments when you’re in so deep
It feels easier to just swim down
ANGELICA/ENSEMBLE:
The Hamiltons move uptown
And learn to live with the unimaginable
HAMILTON:
I spend hours in the garden
I walk alone to the store
And it’s quiet uptown
I never liked the quiet before
I take the children to church on Sunday
A sign of the cross at the door
And I pray
That never used to happen before
ANGELICA AND WOMEN:
If you see him in the street, walking by
Himself, talking to himself, have pity
HAMILTON:
Philip, you would like it uptown
It’s quiet uptown
ANGELICA AND WOMEN:
He is working through the unimaginable
ALL MEN (EXCEPT HAMILTON):
His hair has gone grey. He passes every day
They say he walks the length of the city
HAMILTON:
You knock me out, I fall apart
COMPANY (EXCEPT HAMILTON AND ELIZA):
Can you imagine?
HAMILTON:
Look at where we are
Look at where we started
I know I don’t deserve you, Eliza
But hear me out. That would be enough
If I could spare his life
If I could trade his life for mine
He’d be standing here right now
And you would smile, and that would be enough
I don’t pretend to know
The challenges we’re facing
I know there’s no replacing what we’ve lost
And you need time
But I’m not afraid
I know who I married
Just let me stay here by your side
That would be enough
COMPANY (EXCEPT HAMILTON AND ELIZA):
If you see him in the street, walking by her
Side, talking by her side, have pity
HAMILTON:
Eliza, do you like it uptown? It’s quiet uptown
COMPANY (EXCEPT HAMILTON AND ELIZA):
He is trying to do the unimaginable
See them walking in the park, long after dark
Taking in the sights of the city
HAMILTON:
Look around, look around, Eliza
COMPANY (EXCEPT HAMILTON AND ELIZA):
They are trying to do the unimaginable
ANGELICA:
There are moments that the words don’t reach
There is a grace too powerful to name
We push away what we can never understand
We push away the unimaginable
They are standing in the garden
Alexander by Eliza’s side
She takes his hand
ELIZA:
It’s quiet uptown
COMPANY (EXCEPT HAMILTON AND ELIZA):
Forgiveness. Can you imagine?
Forgiveness. Can you imagine?
If you see him in the street, walking by her
Side, talking by her side, have pity
They are going through the unimaginable
Recent Comments