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The 7 Most Shocking Deleted Songs From Hamilton And Why Lin-Manuel Miranda Cut Them

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The revolutionary Broadway hit Hamilton: An American Musical is a masterclass in storytelling, but its final 46-song tracklist is only part of the story. As of December 21, 2025, the deep-cut history of the show continues to fascinate fans, revealing a sprawling, 3-hour-plus original version that Lin-Manuel Miranda painstakingly trimmed to achieve its perfect, breakneck pace. The process involved cutting nearly 20 songs and 15–20 minutes of material, a painful but necessary choice that ultimately sharpened the narrative focus on Alexander Hamilton’s journey. The most famous of these deleted tracks, often found on *The Hamilton Mixtape* or as rare demo recordings, offer a fascinating glimpse into the musical's evolution, revealing alternate character arcs and explosive moments that never made it to the Richard Rodgers Theatre stage.

The reasons for these cuts were varied—from improving narrative clarity and pacing to avoiding an accidental conflict with a certain Disney blockbuster. These lost tracks, featuring major characters like Angelica Schuyler, Aaron Burr, and George Washington, are now legendary among Hamilfans. Understanding why they were cut is key to appreciating the genius of the final production, which is a testament to the brutal editing process required to turn a brilliant concept into a cohesive, award-winning masterpiece.

The Most Essential Hamilton Cut Songs and Their Evolution

Lin-Manuel Miranda is a prolific writer, and his early workshops and drafts of Hamilton were overflowing with material. The songs listed below represent the most significant cuts, each one being replaced by a superior, more focused track that served the overall story better. These demos and cut tracks offer a richer context for the show’s central themes of legacy, love, and war.

  • “Congratulations” (Angelica’s Explosive Confrontation): This is perhaps the most famous deleted song, and its removal fundamentally changed a key Act 2 moment.
  • “Valley Forge (Demo)” (The Original War-Weariness Track): A haunting song that was the original draft for the final show’s “Stay Alive.”
  • “This One’s Mine” (Hamilton’s Original Love Song for Eliza): The first, less-than-perfect attempt at the pivotal track that became “Helpless.”
  • “No John Trumbull” (The Overly Specific Intro): A rapid-fire opening number that was cut almost immediately after its first public performance.
  • “Let It Go” (The Disney-Conflict Song): An early Act 2 track that had to be abandoned for a surprising reason.
  • “Right Hand Man” (Intro): A brief, initial version of the track that introduces George Washington.
  • “Meet Me Inside” (Demo): An earlier, slightly different take on the scene where Hamilton is promoted by Washington.

1. "Congratulations": The Explosive Angelica Track Replaced by "Burn"

The deletion of "Congratulations" is the most talked-about cut in Hamilton history, primarily because it was replaced by one of the show's most emotional and powerful songs: "Burn."

The Plot Point: "Congratulations" was originally placed immediately after Alexander Hamilton publishes The Reynolds Pamphlet, admitting to his affair with Maria Reynolds. In this version, Angelica Schuyler Church, Hamilton's sister-in-law, arrives not to support Eliza, but to deliver an explosive, rap-heavy confrontation to Alexander.

The Content: The song is a furious takedown of Hamilton's ego and self-destructive behavior. Angelica, sung by Renée Elise Goldsberry, unleashes her pent-up frustration over his betrayal of Eliza, telling him, "You have ruined our lives, congratulations."

Why It Was Cut: Lin-Manuel Miranda realized a critical flaw during the show's workshop at The Public Theater. Audiences were desperate to see Eliza Hamilton’s reaction to the public affair—her pain, her betrayal, and her agency. Having Angelica take center stage at that moment, no matter how brilliant the song, diverted the emotional focus away from Eliza. The song was therefore replaced by the devastating, character-defining solo, "Burn," which focuses entirely on Eliza's heartbreak and her decision to erase herself from Hamilton's narrative. This was a crucial decision that strengthened Eliza's role in the second act.

2. "This One’s Mine": The Original, Flawed Draft of "Helpless"

Every writer knows the pain of cutting a song you love, and "This One's Mine" was one such casualty. It serves as a perfect example of how the show’s themes were refined through critique and revision.

The Plot Point: The song was the original draft of the pivotal moment in Act 1 where Alexander Hamilton meets and falls instantly in love with Eliza Schuyler at the winter's ball.

The Content: Unlike the final version, "This One's Mine" is sung entirely from Alexander Hamilton's perspective. It details his immediate, possessive attraction to Eliza. The song is a good track, but it lacks the emotional depth and narrative function of its replacement.

Why It Was Cut: The anecdote behind this cut is legendary. Lin-Manuel Miranda played the demo for his wife, Vanessa Nadal, who gave him a lukewarm review, saying, "Eh. It's good, but it doesn't feel like a love song." This critique prompted Miranda to rewrite the scene entirely, shifting the perspective to Eliza. The resulting song, "Helpless," became a joyous, giddy, and character-defining track that not only establishes Eliza’s personality but also sets up the contrasting tragedy of "Satisfied," which is told from Angelica's point of view. The shift in perspective was a stroke of genius that deepened the relationship between the three Schuyler sisters.

3. "Valley Forge (Demo)": The Haunting Precursor to "Stay Alive"

The winter at Valley Forge was a pivotal, brutal moment in the American Revolution, and Miranda originally dedicated an entire, haunting song to it, which is preserved on *The Hamilton Mixtape*.

The Plot Point: This song was intended to cover the harsh winter of 1777–1778, leading into the scene where Hamilton is promoted by General Washington.

The Content: "Valley Forge (Demo)" is a somber, emotional track, sung by Miranda, detailing the suffering of Washington's army. It features lines and themes that were later repurposed. For instance, the famous line "We are outgunned, outmanned, outnumbered, outplanned" from "My Shot" was almost certainly a thematic predecessor to the tone of this song.

Why It Was Cut: The song was eventually replaced by the much shorter and more narrative-focused track, "Stay Alive." While "Valley Forge" was beautiful and atmospheric, the final choice to use "Stay Alive" was a pacing decision. "Stay Alive" is a quicker, more direct scene-setter, keeping the momentum moving toward the Battle of Yorktown and Hamilton's eventual promotion, rather than dwelling on the grim atmosphere.

Other Fascinating Demos and Cut Material

Beyond the major cuts, several other tracks and concepts were left on the cutting room floor, demonstrating Miranda's relentless commitment to clarity and flow.

  • "No John Trumbull": This song was an early Act 1 intro that was cut almost immediately after the first night of previews off-Broadway. It was a rapid-fire history lesson focused on the artist John Trumbull, famous for painting scenes of the American Revolution. Miranda himself admitted it was cut for breaking the flow of the show and being too specific, even for a history-heavy musical.
  • The Original "Let It Go": Miranda revealed he had a song in Act 2 called "Let It Go," which dealt with the theme of letting go of grudges or past mistakes. He scrapped the song to avoid any confusion or comparison with the globally famous anthem from Disney's Frozen, a necessary and humorous sacrifice for a writer who would later work with Disney on projects like *Moana*.
  • The Adams Administration (Cut Lyrics): While not a full song, *The Hamilton Mixtape* includes a track, "The Adams Administration," which features cut lyrics from a song that was originally going to appear in Act 2, detailing the political tensions between Hamilton and John Adams. This material was distilled into the brief, sharp dialogue and action that occurs before "Non-Stop," maintaining the show's breakneck pace.

The Lasting Legacy of the Hamilton Deleted Songs

The existence of these cut songs and demos is a powerful lesson in the creative process. For a show about Alexander Hamilton's relentless drive to write his way out of poverty and secure his legacy, it is fitting that the musical itself is a product of relentless revision. The final version of Hamilton is a triumph of editing, proving that sometimes, the hardest and most painful cuts are the ones that lead to perfection.

By studying tracks like "Congratulations" and "This One's Mine," fans gain a deeper appreciation for the dramatic choices made by Lin-Manuel Miranda. The decision to shift focus from Angelica to Eliza in Act 2, and from Hamilton’s perspective to Eliza’s in Act 1, elevated the female characters, giving them the emotional center they deserved. These deleted songs are not failures; they are the essential scaffolding that allowed the final, revolutionary structure to stand so tall.

The 7 Most Shocking Deleted Songs From Hamilton and Why Lin-Manuel Miranda Cut Them
deleted songs from hamilton
deleted songs from hamilton

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