“1776” Songs
with links to soundtrack files or video links posted online by others
1. Overture – Orchestra only
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2. “Sit Down, John!”
Full Congress, John Adams |
(John Adams loudly criticizes Congress, with a few short solos by Livingston, Chase, and Lee, or perhaps others)
Full Congress (minus Ben Franklin), up to seven-part harmony. Tenors and female actors playing men will sing tenor range up to B-flat above middle C.
Full Congress (minus Ben Franklin), up to seven-part harmony. Tenors and female actors playing men will sing tenor range up to B-flat above middle C.
3. “Piddle, Twiddle and Resolve”
John Adams, Abigail Adams |
Continuation of “Sit Down, John” – John Adams talks to God about his difficulties with Congress.
4. “Till Then”
John Adams, Abigail Adams
John Adams, Abigail Adams
Continuation of “Piddle, Twiddle”, with Abigail Adams entering to converse with her husband John, through letters. He tells her he needs saltpeter for gunpowder, for the Colonial troops. She tells him the women in Massachusetts need pins for sewing. The exchange turns into a brief argument, then an equally brief love duet, but is interrupted at the end by the full Congress, with one last statement of “Sit Down, John!”
(listen to the sound file on #3 "Piddle Twiddle" - Abigail's song is halfway through)
(listen to the sound file on #3 "Piddle Twiddle" - Abigail's song is halfway through)
5. “The Lees of Old Virginia”
Richard Henry Lee, Ben Franklin, John Adams |
This is the song that won the Tony Award for best featured actor. Richard Henry Lee is tapped to ride to Virginia to persuade the state government to propose Independence from British rule. Before he leaves, he sings this energetic bragging song, with backup by Franklin and Adams. This song needs a robust, strong voice (baritone, or rich mezzo if female; can be operatic or strongly musical theater), good sense of humor, slight country twang (Virginia southern), twinkle in the eye. This song is a scene-stealer.
6. “But, Mr. Adams”
John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston |
Barbershop Quintet, almost Gilbert & Sullivan in style. Adams, Franklin, Jefferson, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston discuss which of them is going to write the Declaration of Independence. They keep passing the writing quill down the line until it finally ends up with Thomas Jefferson. A very funny ensemble piece with simple choreography and four-part harmony. Highest voice sings high tenor B-flat.
7. “Yours, Yours, Yours”
John Adams, Abigail Adams |
Abigail Adams appears again, and sings an extended love duet with John, full of nostalgic reminiscing, and comparisons to living like a monk in an abbey, or like a nun in a cloister.
8. “He Plays the Violin”
Martha Jefferson, Ben Franklin, John Adams |
Thomas Jefferson is having writer’s block and cannot make progress on the Declaration of Independence. His young wife, Martha, arrives to inspire him. In this song, she tells John Adams and Ben Franklin that it was Jefferson’s violin playing that originally won her over. The song transitions into a waltz scene between Franklin, Adams, and Martha.
9. “Cool, Cool, Considerate Men”
John Dickinson, Edward Rutledge, John Hancock, James Wilson, George Read, Lewis Morris, Dr. Lymon Hall, Robert Livingston, Joseph Hewes |
After the more liberal members of congress leave for a fact-finding trip, the conservatives in Congress sing this elaborate full-chorus minuet/Hosanna praising their own cleverness and philosophy – “To the right, always to the right, never to the left.” This song is the one of the primary production numbers of the show, involving Dickinson (solo), Rutledge (short solo), Wilson, Read, Morris, Hall, Livingston, Hewes, possibly a few others. John Hancock has a short solo, but does not participate in the rest of the song. MacNair, the Courier, and the Leather Apron (apprentice) watch with interest, but do not sing.
10. “Momma, Look Sharp”
Courier, Andrew McNair, Leather Apron |
This is the song that will make audience members cry. Sung by the courier, with backup vocals by McNair and the Leather Apron apprentice, the song is sung from the perspective of a young teenage soldier who was shot in the battle of Lexington, and lay upon the village green dying, hoping that his mother will find him before he dies. The Courier, Leather Apron apprentice, and McNair might all be played by female actors, making a female trio. Or all three could be played by male actors, in a male trio.
11. “The Egg”
Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams |
Trio with Adams, Franklin, Jefferson. The three statesmen discuss how America is like a newly hatched egg, about to give birth to an eagle. Three-part harmony. Highest note is a G above middle C.
12. “Molasses to Rum”
Edward Rutledge |
After being told that slavery is a “stinking business”, South Carolinian Edward Rutledge sings this sarcastic and highly ironic song about the evils of slavery – but points out that it is the North that gets rich off of slave profits from the “Triangle Trade” just as much as the south. During the song, the lights dim, and Rutledge very convincingly describes the tension and drama of the slave trade, before he and the rest of the conservatives walk out, leaving the question of American independence in question.
13. “Compliments of the Ladies’ Concord Coffee Club…”
Abigail Adams |
Abigail appears again and cheers John up with her advice, and with the triumphant news that all of the Ladies’ organizations in Massachusetts have banded together to send several barrels of the Saltpetre John had requested to be used for gunpowder. John is re-energized to continue fighting for the upcoming vote on Independence.
14. “Is Anybody There?”
Charles Thomas, John Adams |
Left alone in the room, and realizing that the anti-slave clause in the Declaration will have to wait for another time (nearly a hundred years, in fact) – and that an anti-slavery clause would prevent the Declaration from passing in 1776, Adams asks the congressional secretary for advice. Mr. Thomas sings the latest letter from General George Washington - "Is anybody there? Does anybody care?" Adams quotes the letter, and answers it - yes, he cares. Even though things look bleak, Adams predicts the eventual passing of the vote on Independence, and foresees fireworks and parades to celebrate Independence Day from that time onward. This is Adams’ most dramatic song in the show, and it's the final song in the performance. The Finale is a dramatic, almost-silent Finale, as each delegate’s name is called and he signs the Declaration of Independence, while the Liberty Bell tolls slowly.