Blue: Dear Lin Manuel...

Your play has impacted me in a way I never could have imagined.

I don’t even know where to begin with explaining the love, appreciation, astonishment and sense of empowerment your play has blessed upon me.

I know this album like the back of my hand. I have listened to it so many times that I am at the point of analyzing and discovering hidden meaning within every song, verse line, word. I would say “past the point” but I don't think there is an end to your music’s analyzation.

I have always loved examining music, especially rap music, to determine lyric’s deeper meaning and detecting references, literary devices and relating it to my life. I thought I was the only person whose love for theater and rap were so extreme and equivalent in passion.

Your play leaves me with an overwhelming feeling of appreciation. 

I struggled finding what word to use in that last sentence. But, I think appreciation perfectly describes my feelings towards Hamilton.

I feel as if I have witnessed an act of perfection, and I do not use that word lightly. I am a Communications major and I absolutely love to criticize and scrutinize plays, movies, TV shows, albums. I have never thought something didn't need extra work, a different melody, a stronger person to play a specific role. I know I am not one to harshly criticize considering I am only a sophomore in college, but I can’t help my overpowering thoughts and opinions after watching a performance. That being said, when I say I have witnessed an act of perfection, I truly mean it. 

I have always loved literature and thrived in all my english classes in school. I love analyzing lyrics and finding hidden meanings. It’s like a game to me. 

Listening to the Hamilton album and discovering hidden references, I feel as if I have a similar sense of the overwhelming feeling Lin Manuel Miranda might have had when he realized how each and every element of Alexander Hamilton’s life was a meant to be sculpted into a literary masterpiece. Hamiltons life, filled with endless twists, turns, connections, romance, significance, intelligence…it’s something more than any play writer could ever hope for. 

Your lyrics strike me and leave me astonished by the impact it has on my emotions, thoughts, actions…

“One stroke and you’ve consumed my waking days.” 

I don’t mean to make this too much of an essay, but I feel as if these feelings I have towards your music, these connections I am making, these hidden truths I am discovering… it is something I can barely understand, but it is truly magical. 

So, thank you. 

I am a writer as well. As much as I hope to write words that empower people, your words have empowered and inspired me.

In the time you have had on this earth you have accomplished something that Hamilton aspired to do; you have changed lives.