Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Lin-Manuel Miranda, Barack Obama Collaborate On Gospel Version Of 'Hamilton' Song

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "ONE LAST TIME (44 REMIX)")

CHRISTOPHER JACKSON: (As George Washington, vocalizing).

SCOTT SIMON, HOST:

Lin-Manuel Miranda's "Hamilton" helped make a lot of stars, including, of course, Lin-Manuel Miranda.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "ONE LAST TIME (44 REMIX)")

JACKSON: (As George Washington, singing) Everyone shall sit under their own vine and fig tree...

SIMON: He gives a promising newcomer to musical theater a chance in a new remix of "One Last Time," a song from "Hamilton" that he's reworked as a gospel song.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "ONE LAST TIME (44 REMIX)")

BARACK OBAMA: (As George Washington) Though in reviewing the incidents of my administration, I am unconscious of intentional error, I'm nevertheless too sensible of my defects not to think it probable that I may have committed many errors.

SIMON: The words of the first president, George Washington, as read by the 44th, President Barack Obama. The remix of "One Last Time" is the final track in a series called "Hamildrops," which raises money for several nonprofit groups. The recording also features performers who work a little more regularly in song - Christopher Jackson and BeBe Winans. But if President Obama likes musical theater, why not play Billy Flynn in "Chicago" or Tevye in "Fiddler?"

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "ONE LAST TIME (44 REMIX)")

OBAMA: (As George Washington) The ever-favorite object of my heart and the happy reward, as I trust, of our mutual cares, labors and dangers. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

Scott Simon is one of America's most admired writers and broadcasters. He is the host of Weekend Edition Saturday and is one of the hosts of NPR's morning news podcast Up First. He has reported from all fifty states, five continents, and ten wars, from El Salvador to Sarajevo to Afghanistan and Iraq. His books have chronicled character and characters, in war and peace, sports and art, tragedy and comedy.