[BURR]
There’s nothing rich folks love more
Than going downtown and slummin’ it with the poor
They pull up in their carriages and gawk
At the students in the common
Just to watch them talk
Take Philip Schuyler: the man is loaded
Uh-oh, but little does he know that
His daughters, Peggy, Angelica, Eliza
Sneak into the city just to watch all the guys at—

[COMPANY]
Work, work!

[ANGELICA]
Angelica!

[COMPANY]
Work, work!

[ELIZA]
Eliza!

[PEGGY]
And Peggy!

[COMPANY]
Work, work!
The Schuyler sisters!

[ANGELICA]
Angelica!

[PEGGY]
Peggy!

[ELIZA]
Eliza!

[COMPANY]
Work!

[PEGGY]
Daddy said to be home by sundown

[ANGELICA]
Daddy doesn’t need to know

[PEGGY]
Daddy said not to go downtown

[ELIZA]
Like I said, you’re free to go

[ANGELICA]
But—look around, look around, the
Revolution’s happening in New York

[ELIZA/PEGGY]
New York

[COMPANY]
Angelica

[SCHUYLER SISTERS AND COMPANY]
Work!

[PEGGY]
It’s bad enough daddy wants to go to war

[ELIZA]
People shouting in the square

[PEGGY]
It’s bad enough there’ll be violence on our shore

[ANGELICA]
New ideas in the air

[ANGELICA AND MALE ENSEMBLE]
Look around, look around—

[ELIZA]
Angelica, remind me what we’re looking for…

[ALL MEN]
She’s lookin’ for me!

[ANGELICA]
Eliza, I’m lookin’ for a mind at work
I’m lookin’ for a mind at work!
I’m lookin’ for a mind at work!
Whooaaaaa!

[ELIZA/ANGELICA/PEGGY]
Whooaaaaa!
Work! [COMPANY]
Work, work!

Work, work!
Work, work!




Work!

[BURR]
Wooh! There’s nothin’ like summer in the city
Someone in a rush next to someone lookin’ pretty
Excuse me, miss, I know it’s not funny
But your perfume smells like your daddy’s got money
Why you slummin’ in the city in your fancy heels
You searchin for an urchin who can give you ideals?

[ANGELICA]
Burr, you disgust me

[BURR]
Ah, so you’ve discussed me
I’m a trust fund, baby, you can trust me!

[ANGELICA]
I’ve been reading Common Sense by Thomas Paine
So men say that I’m intense or I’m insane
You want a revolution? I want a revelation
So listen to my declaration:

[ELIZA/ANGELICA/PEGGY]
“We hold these truths to be self-evident
That all men are created equal”

[ANGELICA]
And when I meet Thomas Jefferson

[COMPANY]
Unh!

[ANGELICA]
I’m ‘a compel him to include women in the sequel!

[WOMEN]
Work!

[ELIZA]
Look around, look around at how
Lucky we are to be alive right now!

[ELIZA/PEGGY]
Look around, look around at how
Lucky we are to be alive right now!

[ELIZA/ANGELICA/PEGGY]
History is happening in Manhattan and we just happen to be
In the greatest city in the world!

[SCHUYLER SISTERS AND COMPANY]
In the greatest city in the world!

[ANGELICA]
Cuz I’ve been reading Common Sense by Thomas Paine
So men say that I’m intense or I’m insane

[ANGELICA]
You want a revolution?
I want a revelation


So listen to my declaration:

[ANGELICA/ELIZA/PEGGY]
We hold these truths to be self evident that all men are created equal
Whoo! [ELIZA/PEGGY]
Look around, look around


The revolution’s happening in—


[ELIZA/PEGGY]
New York!


In New York!





[FEMALE ENSEMBLE]
Look around
Look around


At how lucky we are to be alive right now [MEN]
Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!



Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!




[WOMEN]
Look around, look around the revolution’s happening





Hey! Hey!

Hey! Hey!

Hey! Hey!

Hey! Hey!

[FULL COMPANY]
Look around, look around at how lucky we are to be alive right now!
History is happening in Manhattan and we just happen to be

[ALL WOMEN]
In the greatest city in the world

[ALL MEN]
In the greatest city—

[COMPANY]
In the greatest city in the world!

[COMPANY]
Work, work!

Work, work!





Work, work!



Work, work!
Work, work!


Work, work!

Work, work!

[COMPANY]
Work, work!
Work, work!

Work, work!
[ANGELICA]
Angelica!

[ELIZA]
Eliza!

[PEGGY]
And Peggy!

[ANGELICA/ELIZA/PEGGY]
The Schuyler sisters!

We’re looking for a mind at work!
Hey!

Hey!


[ANGELICA]
Whoa!


In the greatest
City in the world




















[ELIZA/PEGGY]
Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!
In the greatest

City in the world
[COMPANY]
In the greatest city in the world!


Lyrics submitted by Mellow_Harsher

The Schuyler Sisters song meanings
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2 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    I love this song so much!!!

    Maddisonthefoxon September 20, 2018   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I love this song!

    Maddisonthefoxon September 20, 2018   Link

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