Released 2015 Length 3:29 Composer(s) Lin-Manuel Miranda | Genre Show tune Writer(s) Lin-Manuel Miranda Lyricist(s) Lin-Manuel Miranda | |
"You'll Be Back" is the seventh song from Act 1 of the musical Hamilton, based on the life of Alexander Hamilton, which premiered on Broadway in 2015. Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote both the music and lyrics to the song. It is sung by Jonathan Groff in the show's original cast recording.
Contents
History
Alexander Hamilton biography author Ron Chernow said "I can remember laughing uproariously when [Lin] first sent me King George III’s satirical song to the colonists, 'You’ll Be Back.'".
The song was featured in a 2016 Ham4Ham clip in which Jimmy Fallon sang the song through various musical impersonations. Fallon covered it once again as a part of "The Hamilton Mixtape."
Synopsis
King George III is dismayed by the American War of Independence and expresses his belief that the American Colonists will crawl back to the British Empire once their rebellion is squashed.
The melody is reprised twice in the play for King George's other two numbers: "What Comes Next?", in which the king ultimately refuses to help the recently freed United States if it struggles with its independent leadership; and "I Know Him", in which the king seems concerned that John Adams will not be as effective a president as George Washington was before expressing disdainful amusement at the thought of the United States becoming divided over Adams' leadership.
Style
While the majority of songs in the musical Hamilton are in the genre of hip-hop, R&B, or soul, this one is in the style of British Invasion bands, such as the Beatles. Vulture described it as a "Carnaby Street breakup song not unlike 'With a Little Help From My Friends.'" The New York Times deemed the song "chiming ’60s Britpop". The American Conservative described it as a "creepy stalker ballad".
Analysis
The Huffington Post explained the significance of the song being sung by a white character: "this is one of the most 'traditional musical theatre' numbers in the show, sung by the only caucasian main character. He represents the Old Ways; Hamilton & Co represent the New".
The melody is reprised twice later in the musical, first in "What Comes Next?" when the Americans win the war, and in "I Know Him" when George Washington retires as President.
Critical reception
Vibe deemed it a "sunny, playful take on the airing of grievances". The Hollywood Reporter wrote that the "melodically rich number" has "sardonic humor". The Daily Review wrote that any Australian wanting to become a republic will thoroughly enjoy King George's "bemoaning" of the revolutionary war. The New York Times deemed it "sneering yet wonderfully breezy".