"History has its eyes on you."
At the heart of Lin-Manuel Miranda's Pulitzer Prize, Tony, and Grammy award-winning musical Hamilton is one central theme: legacy. Inspired by Washington’s 1796 Farewell Address, the duet "One Last Time," captures the moment when Washington decides against seeking a third term, enlisting Hamilton's aid in shaping the legacy he would leave to the nation he helped to create.
In this stirring performance of the duet, Christopher Jackson—who originated the role of George Washington on Broadway—is joined by Staff Sergeant Ian McEuen as Alexander Hamilton, with The U.S. Army Chorus and The U.S. Army Concert Band under the baton of Colonel Bruce R. Pulver.
Washington's address, drafted with the help of Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, was more than just a farewell; it was his blueprint for America's future. In it, he urged unity over division, caution against foreign entanglements, and a dedication to the principles of the young Constitution.
Though Washington never delivered this address aloud, it was published on September 19, 1796, in the Philadelphia Daily American Advertiser, soon appearing in newspapers across the country. His words continue to echo today.