Featuring: Christopher Jackson Henry Gainza Doreen Montalvo

Songwriter: Lin-Manuel Miranda

Producer: Lin-Manuel Miranda

[NARRATION]
Lights go up in Lincoln, he’s at an open mic

[LINCOLN]
I wrote this song about a friend...

I can’t sit still at all tonight
The payphone rings right by my side
How did you get this number?
I’m under your thumb
You know me well
I didn’t think you’d call tonight
I know you well you’re on my mind
And when you’re gone
I can’t sleep
So take these dreams
And sing them back to me
Bring them back to me

[USNAVI]
Yo, I’m sitting on the stoop
Like a nincompoop
Listening to Lincoln, thinkin’
Maybe I’m not in the loop
Tell me who you’re singing this for again?
You say you’re in love
With my man Benny?
...You like Benny? Wait since when?
Hold on, I don’t feel frightened
But hold up a second
Everybody’s getting upset in the head
And Nina’s in an armageddon
And Vanessa just came by in distress
She’s a mess
I’m holding this bottle, consoling holiness
Holy shit, look at this, book of songs
Mira Esto! Found it round the house
It’s the Benny Manifesto
It’s true, I guess so
Damn he musta written
So many nights
Listen to this one yo
He calls it “In the Heights”

[USNAVI AND LINCOLN]
Last night, we played
A thousand games
And loneliness you know my name
How did I live before you
Came into my life?

[USNAVI AND LINCOLN] [VANESSA] I don’t know why I’m cold tonight Hello?
Nina It’s me
Now would you please pick up the phone It’s 89 degrees outside Why won’t you answer when I call you up at home? And everybody’s dancing Whatever Benny went and told you is a lie And everybody’s dancing I bet you’re stronger then any fucking guy And everybody’s dancing Why won’t you call me back? Please give me a reply and you’re just standing
With your back to me Whatever anybody told you run it by me call me back Please. Please come back to me
[ALMA]
Hello, is Benny there?
Is anybody home?
Is anybody anywhere?
C’mon pick up the phone
I wonder where you are…I miss your little face
Wandered far from my embrace and wasted so much time alone

[BENNY]
Ma
Hang up the phone

[ALMA]
Never go away again!

[BENNY]
Ma I can stay awhile maybe
Until I’m okay again

[ALMA]
God you look so grown but you are still my baby

[LINCOLN]
And Benny here you are
In every written line
I’m smitten and I loved you
All this time
And I’m standing in the station and I’ve made the realization
That I’m not your destination, you’re never coming home

[ALMA] [LINCOLN] Benny when you’re home you’re safe (vocalization) There are people out there who’ll desert you and hurt you!
[ENSEMBLE]
In Washington Heights!

[VANESSA] [ENSEMBLE] Nina where’d you go?
I don’t wanna be alone tonight In Washington Heights! This place is all I know
But it doesn’t feel like home tonight In Washington Heights! [LINCOLN] (?)
I’ll stay without you Never give your heart away (?)
I’ll take the blame and I’ll do anything to take away In Washington Heights! So many things to say [ALMA] But the pain (?) to take away In Washington Heights! Maybe not today But probably not today (?) In Washington Heights! I’ll
Wait [BENNY] I’ve been growing up to (?) In Washington Heights! I’ll
Wait for you Benny Maybe
I’ll be okay I remember those summer nights neverending In Washington Heights! I’ll be waiting Never go away again I remember when (?), Life was easier In Washington Heights! I’ll be waiting I remember those summer nights neverending In Washington Heights! Oh Never go away again I remember when (?), Life was easier In Washington Heights! Oh [NINA] Oh I’m home Never go away again Nothing’s changed
It’s all the same
And everybody knows my name In Washington Heights! Oh I’m
Home Never go away again I’m never young again
I just can’t go home again In Washington Heights! Never go away again I’m
Going (?)
I’m going (?) In Washington Heights! And even though my heart is breaking In Washington Heights! And everything inside is aching, breaking In Washington Heights! I can’t cry
I can’t cry
I can’t (?) because I’ll die In the Heights! and in the height of all my pain
I remain
We remain In Washington Heights! And in the height of all my pain
I remain
My heart remains!
[ALL]
In Washington Heights!

Lin-Manuel Miranda

Lin-Manuel Miranda is an award-winning American writer, composer, playwright, and actor. He created and starred in two hit musicals, In the Heights and Hamilton (2015), an epic adaptation of Ron Chernow’s biography of the American founding father. Miranda also co-wrote the music and lyrics for Disney’s Moana (2016). The film’s main theme, “How Far I’ll Go”, was nominated for the 2017 Academy Award for Best Original Song.

Personally, Miranda has received a Pulitzer Prize for Drama (Hamilton), three Tony Awards (Best Original Score for both ITH and Hamilton, Best Book of a Musical for Hamilton), two Grammys (Best Musical Theatre Album ITH, Hamilton), and an Emmy (Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics for “Bigger”). He was the recipient of the 2015 MacArthur Fellowship “Genius Grant”. He has a star on the Puerto Rican Walk of Fame and will receive a Hollywood star in 2018.

Awards for musicals