By now, the globe knows the musical Hamilton. The racial-bending, historically-based Broadway play by Lin-Manuel Miranda that has become a worldwide sensation. Of course, the play follows the life of American Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, and his rise and fall through the ranks of the country.
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The work also includes the likes of Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and Aaron Burr. But what if we were to make a more modern version of this rapping textbook of a performance? What if, instead of looking at figures from centuries ago, we looked at ones more closely linked to our modern times?
Yes, what if we wrote a Hamilton-style play about former President Barack Obama, our more recent two-term POTUS who had as unique a journey as any to elected office? Or, better yet, what if we asked an impartial entity like our ol’ friends at ChatGPT to help put together something via artificial intelligence?
Here are the results:
“A Symbol of Hope”
(Verse 1)
In the heart of Chicago, where dreams take flight,
A leader emerged, shining so bright,
A man named Barack, with a vision in his eye,
To inspire a nation, reach for the sky.
From humble beginnings, his story was told,
A son of Kenya and Kansas, a tale of old,
He faced the challenges with courage and grace,
In the pursuit of justice, he’d find his place.
(Chorus)
Barack Obama, a symbol of hope,
A voice of change, never willing to cope,
With the status quo, he’d rewrite the game,
A legacy that forever will remain.
(Verse 2)
He stepped onto the stage, a master of words,
With eloquence and passion, his voice was heard,
A community organizer, a senator, and more,
He’d rise to the occasion, history in store.
The audacity of hope, his rallying cry,
United we stand, he’d make us all try,
To bridge the divides, to heal the wounds,
With hope as his weapon, he’d conquer all tombs.
(Chorus)
Barack Obama, a symbol of hope,
A voice of change, never willing to cope,
With the status quo, he’d rewrite the game,
A legacy that forever will remain.
(Bridge)
Through trials and tribulations, he faced the storm,
With grace and resilience, he’d transform,
A nation divided, he sought to unite,
With empathy and compassion, he’d shine a light.
(Verse 3)
In the Oval Office, he’d make his mark,
Tackling the challenges, leaving a spark,
Healthcare reform, a milestone achieved,
Lifting up the marginalized, the underserved relieved.
And as the first African-American President,
He shattered barriers, a message sent,
That no dream is too big, no hurdle too high,
If we come together, we can touch the sky.
(Chorus)
Barack Obama, a symbol of hope,
A voice of change, never willing to cope,
With the status quo, he’d rewrite the game,
A legacy that forever will remain.
(Outro)
So let us remember, the man who led,
With grace and integrity, a path he tread,
Barack Obama, a chapter in our history,
A beacon of inspiration, for all to see.
Final Thoughts
Not bad, ChatGPT. This song plays the hits, so to speak, highlighting the traits of the former President that remain salient. The boundaries he crossed, the hope he gave so many. Of course, these songs are more entertainment than cut-to-the-core truth. But from a bird’s eye view, this song got it right. Let’s start previews of the new play, Barack, soon, shall we? Someone call Lin.
Photo by Michelle Gustafson/Bloomberg via Getty Images
