Right Hand Man (Hamilton song)

The song Right Hand Man charts the very beginning of the American Revolutionary War, and begins with Alexander Hamilton (Lin-Manuel Miranda) and Hercules Mulligan (Okieriete Onaodowan) reaffirming their commitment to the fight. Alexander Hamilton is irritated that he cannot rise to a position of command in the Continental Army, as there is only one man who could award him such a position - General George Washington, who had been appointed commander-in-chief at the Second Continental Congress.[1] Washington is then introduced by Aaron Burr, and discusses his frustration of his forces in the fight for control of New York City.[2] Hamilton attempts to reverse the tide of the battle by capturing British cannons that were attacking his unit in the Battery. These actions bring Hamilton to the attention of Washington, who decides to recruit a right-hand man after retreating from Brooklyn. Burr applies for this role, but is dismissed in favor of Hamilton, who assumes the eponymous role at the song's conclusion.[3]

The song contains the lyric, "Now I'm the model of a modern major general", which is adapted from the Major-General's Song from Pirates of Penzance by Gilbert and Sullivan. The credits of the 2020 film adaptation of Hamilton acknowledge this as the source of the lyric.

The song serves to introduce George Washington, a role originated on Broadway by Christoper Jackson.[4]

Elizabeth Logan, writing for Huffington Post, considered the song to incorporate recurring motifs from the musical, such as "throwing away my shot" - a reference to My Shot.[5] It further sows seeds of discord between Hamilton and Burr due to jealousy, and this becomes important in Act 2 of the musical, where the two duel in Weehawken, New Jersey.

The song receives a reprise later in the musical, when Washington asks Hamilton to assume the role of Secretary of the Treasury in the Cabinet of the United States.

Buzzfeed ranked the song as the 22nd best in the musical,[6] while The Young Folks had it ranked 19th.[7]

Vibe.com said that it marked a return to the initial "1990's feel" of the musical .[8]