Lin-Manuel Miranda

Featuring: Henry Gainza Christopher Jackson

Songwriter: Lin-Manuel Miranda

Producer: Lin-Manuel Miranda

[BENNY]
Man, damn
Look at the way they’re shaking!

[USNAVI]
Shake what your mama gave ya!

[BENNY]
They be checking out the moves I’m making

[USNAVI]
And Benny, when we step across the floor

[BENNY AND USNAVI]
Everybody begs for more!

[BENNY]
The night is young and so am I

[USNAVI]
Aye yi yi yi yi yi yi!

[BENNY]
I know you’d rather be at home and writing

[USNAVI]
Time off for good behavior

[BENNY]
Don’t you think this club’s a little more exciting?

[USNAVI]
You got the fever for the flavor

[BENNY AND USNAVI]
So they can have a drink and have a dance
Get on the floor and grab your chance

[BENNY]
Let’s have some fun before we die

[USNAVI]
Aye yi yi yi yi yi yi!

[VANESSA]
I see your man
He’s dancing with your brother and that other guy and they look fine

[NINA]
I can't believe you found them; there's a million guys around here

[VANESSA]
Your brother’s all mine!

[NINA]
And then he asks me to dance

[VANESSA]
Leave nothing to chance
When it comes to romance—you gotta weight the [?]

[LINCOLN]
Excuse me, Miss, may I have this dance?

[WOMAN 1]
No chance!

[LINCOLN]
Alright then. God, I’m a jerk

[BENNY]
Watch the men at work
Hey baby

[WOMAN 2]
What?

[BENNY]
I see you shaking your head
Why don't we shake those hips instead?

[WOMAN 2]
Are you trying to get me in bed?

[BENNY]
Well, maybe
Let's say we begin again
My name is Benjamin
I just wanna dance

[WOMAN 2]
I just wanna sit and drink this

[BENNY 2]
You won't even tell me your name

[WOMAN 2]
You're all the same, just talking game
So fucking lame, just walk away

[BENNY]
Okay, but it's too damn bad

[WOMAN 2]
Why's that?

[BENNY]
I would've been the best you ever had

[VANESSA]
Why aren’t you lame boys dancing?

[NINA]
Hey Benny, I know you’re not a dancer
But no is not the answer I am looking for

[LINCOLN]
Fine, I know the signs, Benny, go ahead

[BENNY]
Don’t mind if I do

[LINCOLN]
It’s Vanessa

[BENNY]
After you

[LINCOLN]
Hey Vanessa, how 'bout a dance?

There’s something out here for me
I haven’t found it
It’s strange
We’re only lonely
When we’re totally surrounded
When Benny’s on the dance floor
The whole world stops at his feet
He’s my best friend and I can’t possibly compete
Who can compete?

[USNAVI]
Bartender!
Let me get an amaretto sour for this ghetto flower!
How are you so pretty?
You complete me
You had me at hello, you know you need me
Truly, madly, deeply, let’s get freaky
Oh I get it, you’re the strong and silent type
Well, I’m the Caribbean island type
And I can drive you wild all night!
But I digress!
Say something so I don’t stress

[WOMAN 3]
No hablo inglés

[USNAVI]
Yes!

[VANESSA]
Usnavi, I need a giant favor

[USNAVI]
I’m in the middle of a conversation

[VANESSA]
¿Quien es esa niña?

[NINA]
I need you

[USNAVI]
Un minuto. What!?

[NINA]
Just follow me and walk with me tonight and everything will be alright
The night is young and so am I

[USNAVI]
Aye yi yi yi yi yi yi!

[NARRATION]
The dance floor makes way for two couples:
Vanessa and Benny, and Usnavi and Nina
They try to out dance each other
Vanessa and Benny (?)
And Nina’s shocking Usnavi with (?)
The music swells to its final crescendo
Benny and Nina are face to face
(?)

[USNAVI]
Hey, I thought we were dancin’?

[VANESSA]
Shut up and learn something!

[NARRATION]
Benny and Nina dance with everyone joining in
They’re on the verge of kissing when the power goes out

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

more tracks from the album

In The Heights Demo/Workshop

From the album

In The Heights Demo/Workshop (2000)

Lin-Manuel Miranda popular songs

The Club [Workshop]Lin-Manuel Miranda

Lin-Manuel Miranda

In The Heights Demo/Workshop