I Have This Friend

"I Have This Friend" is a song that was intended to appear in Hamilton. It features Alexander Hamilton asking for advice from George Washington about his affair with Maria Reynolds.

It was performed by Lin-Manuel Miranda as both Washington and Hamilton, respectively.

Lyrics[]

Mr. President, do you have a minute?

Yeah, what is it, Mr. Secretary?

I have this friend
He's quite a guy
He's in a bit of a bind and he needs advice

How can I help you?

Not me, this friend, it's a friend

All right

He's in the public eye
Well, did something wrong
And he paid the price, expensive price
Made a mistake in his personal life
And now it's bleeding over into the professional
His enemies are said to strike
With news better suited to a church confessional
What they think they know
Isn't what happened and they know I know
They won't stop until the world turns upside down

So this friend?

Yup

Did he break the law?

No sir
What he did was private
And no one saw

No one saw?

No one saw
Then your friend
Should just move on
Don't respond, stay quiet until these men are gone

But he can't just not respond, these men
Whisper again and again until his reputation's in the mud
These men, these envious venomous men
Won't let go the scent till they taste blood

But do they need to know?
If he's really done nothing wrong
It doesn't matter if

The world turns upside down

Calm down

Damned if I do and if I don't
But I won't be accused of financial impropriety
(I don't see how)
They can take away what I say
If I say it first they can make it worse with their rank, false piety
People will make fun of this
But I can get in front of this
I can take the pain and shame
But I will clear my name
I will show them all in the end

And your...friend?

Yeah, me and my friend
He's come too far for them to drag him through the dirt

Well I don't know your friend
But I know you're MY friend
Alexander, be careful who you hurt, who you hurt, who you hurt

Wait for it, wait for it, wait for it

Who you hurt

Wait for it, wait for it, wait for it

Who you hurt

Wait for it, wait for it, wait for it

Who you hurt

Wait for it, wait for it, wait for it

Video[]

I Have This Friend - Cut Song From Hamilton

]] Songs

Theatrical
Alexander Hamilton • Aaron Burr, Sir • You'll Be Back • A Winter's Ball • The Story of Tonight (Reprise) • Wait for It • Ten Duel Commandments • What Comes Next? • Dear Theodosia • Non-Stop • What'd I Miss • Cabinet Battle 1 • Say No To This • The Room Where It Happens • Schuyler Defeated • Cabinet Battle 2 • Washington On Your Side • I Know Him • The Adams Administration • We Know • Hurricane • The Reynolds Pamphlet • Stay Alive (Reprise) • The Election of 1800 • Your Obedient Servant • The World Was Wide Enough • Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story

Deleted Songs
Congratulations • I Have This Friend • Dear Theodosia (Reprise) • Ten Things, One Thing