Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton will go down as one of the major artistic achievements of the decade (century?) The combination of subject matter (the Founding of the nation), social significance (a non-white cast and composer telling the story of our all-white Founding Fathers), and theatrical greatness (a mix of hip-hop and more traditional numbers) make Hamilton a work that should survive in public consciousness for as long as the United States is a nation – and maybe longer.  Here are some of the highlights:

10. Cabinet Battle #1: Thomas Jefferson vs. Alexander Hamilton in a rap battle representing the nation’s first major political rivalry. Hamilton (Miranda) goes for the throat:

A civics lesson from a slaver. Hey neighbor
Your debts are paid cuz you don’t pay for labor
“We plant seeds in the South. We create.”
Yeah, keep ranting
We know who’s really doing the planting

9. My Shot: An early energy and character builder for the boyish Alexander: Yo I’m just like my country/ I’m young, scrappy, and hungry/ and I’m not throwin’ away my shot.

8. You’ll Be Back: King George (Jonathan Groff ) reigns as the petulant monarch pining for his wayward love, the American colonies, to return to him: When push comes to shove/ I will kill your friends and family/ To remind you of my love.

7. Burn: An appropriately named slow burner. The plaintive violin line gives it a Funeral-era Arcade Fire feel.

6. Alexander Hamilton: The iconic opener introduces the voices of a terrific cast and provides a whirlwind tour through the youth of America’s supreme “bastard, orphan, son of a whore.”

5. History Has Its Eyes On You / Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story: George Washington (Christopher Jackson {what a voice}) waxes eloquent on the Founders’ burden of legacy building in “History.” “Who Lives” picks up the melodic and thematic strand in a stirring closer; its only flaw is the perhaps excessive exposition at the expense of lyrical flow.

4. Guns and Ships: History has never been more fun than the motor-mouthed French-accented rapping by Daveed Diggs. Also a reason why it makes little sense to see this show live without listening ahead of time. No way your ears can keep up with his tongue twisters.

3. Wait For It: High school history books portray Aaron Burr as a bit of a nut. But Miranda turns Hamilton’s ultimate enemy into a compelling and sympathetic foil. Played by Leslie Odom, Jr., Burr gets some of the play’s most memorable lines. And Miranda’s powerful use of the chorus heightens the emotion.

2. Say No To This: The sultry Maria Reynolds (Jasmine Cephas Jones) nails the show’s musical climax with her “STAAAAAY.” The harp glissandos in the chorus give me tingles.

1. Satisfied: A wedding toast warps into a flashback: a love story fraught by jealousy, restlessness, and familial duty. The frustrations of 18th century gender dynamics find expression in Renee Elise Goldsberry’s doubly impressive performance as rapper and balladeer.