"I said, 'Wow — I've never heard a song quite like that on Broadway.' I just knew that whoever was going to get to sing 'Wait For It' eight shows a week was going to be a lucky actor. I knew that." - Leslie Odom Jr. (see "Being Aaron Burr" at the bottom of page for further reading)

      “Wait For It,” written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, is a song from the Broadway musical Hamilton. Since the musical’s soundtrack released for streaming on September 25, 2015, “Wait For It” has struck a chord with people of all backgrounds. The magnitude of Hamilton's impact on American culture when it was released is hard to measure, but some events can give a sense. Unique to other Broadway shows at the time, the original musical was filmed and released for streaming on Disney+ to reach a wider audience while preserving its theatrical nature (Kail 2020). The song doesn’t solely matter because of its lyrical and musical elements, but rather because of the musical’s social and cultural impact in America. Through a variety of analyses of the song and its social contexts, this site demonstrates how  “Wait For It” gives meaning and nuance to the character Aaron Burr, challenging conventional historical narratives and encouraging reflection and broader creative reinterpretations. History can be creatively modernized, like it is for Burr’s narrative in Hamilton, to catch people’s attention and show them something new. Hamilton illustrates how the past is a significant part of the present and alters people’s perspectives in the future. 

      The Review of ‘Wait For It’ analyzes the lyrics, sound, and production of “Wait For It” and states why it matters that the song humanizes Aaron Burr’s character. I argue that the song’s lyrics and composition break the notion that the antagonist in history should be viewed solely in a negative light. The song discusses themes of love, death, and life (all aspects of the human experience) contributing to the song's relatability and touching the lives of many. Viewing people in this complex way can create a more compassionate view of history, and “Wait For It” is one example of using creativity to achieve this purpose. 

      Next, Critique: Hamilton as a Myth? shows that "Wait For It" is a part of a larger discourse surrounding how people today interact with America's founding story. It does this by critiquing the article “Lin-Manuel Miranda and the metamyth of a nation’s founding” written by Helen Whall. Whall strategically utilizes pieces of criticism, while seemingly in the minority compared to the musical’s popularity. She includes specific aspects of the musical such as the historical story it tells, the glorification of characters, and representation of race, slavery, and the role of women. Hamilton has sparked several debates over the accuracy of the historical information and conventional representation of women as shown through Jennifer Schussler’s “‘Hamilton’ and History: Are They in Sync?” and Stacy Wolf’s “Hamilton’s women" respectively. The content of Whall’s article sheds light on Hamilton’s social significance and highlights the role of creative storytelling in reshaping public perception of history. 

      Playlist & Listening Guide: Inside the Mind of Aaron Burr examines a series of songs that relate to "Wait For It" in order to understand the evolution of Aaron Burr’s relationship with Alexander Hamilton. I draw lyrical and musical connections, such as a change in tempo or repeating notes, with goal of allowing listeners to apply new perspectives and contexts to "Wait For It" and the character of Aaron Burr. The listening guide reveals Burr’s philosophy expressed in “Wait For It” as patient and cautious; however, at the end of the musical it twists into jealousy and resentment towards the power Hamilton manages to hold. No matter how hard Burr works, he doesn't feel successful when comparing himself to Hamilton. Through this gradual shift in emotions prompted by music, Miranda humanizes Burr and challenges the audience to reconsider how they view ambition and success. 

      Hamilton in the Media expands this discussion by diving specifically into works of media that reference or were influenced by Hamilton. This emphasizes and gives examples of the cultural impact of the musical and how it has shaped public discourse on numerous topics, including history and identity. With the Internet and social media, it is more accessible to create and share media, especially about a well-loved topic such as Hamilton. I draw on ideas from Laurence Maslon’s “History Has Its Eyes on You: The Internet and the Mixtape of Broadway” that the Internet has affected show tunes after Hamilton’s release. This reveals not only the impact of Hamilton on Broadway and pop culture but also the immense influence of social media. There wouldn’t be creative reinterpretations of the musical if it didn’t have relevance beyond the stage. Tracing these connections illustrates and proves Hamilton’s influence on contemporary culture. 

      In conclusion, “Wait For It” serves as a window into Aaron Burr’s personal life and philosophy as well as a broader commentary on the human experience. By combining historical context with modern creativity, Lin-Manuel Miranda invites audiences to challenge traditional narratives and view history with a more nuanced perspective. “Wait For It” is one of the few moments in the musical that provides direct insight into the character of Aaron Burr. This serves as a unique example of how an antagonist isn’t necessarily all-bad and highlights themes of humanity that can resonate with people beyond a musical setting. 

Further reading into Leslie Odom Jr as Aaron Burr:



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