Avatar: Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story

This video was inspired by EmptyFeet’s Zuko video with “Wait for It.” I had been wanting to make a video with a Hamilton song since I first listened to the album, and that video made me want to make one even more. Hamilton is my most recent obsession, and Avatar is my lifelong obsession, so here we are.

For those not familiar with the musical, “Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story” is the final song and takes place after the death of Alexander Hamilton. Eliza, who is featured in the song, was his wife. Here, Aang is Alexander, and Katara is Eliza. Katara outlives Aang and works to uphold his story as well as her own, while missing him dearly.

The making of this video gave me emotions.

Also, the song/musical have Important Words, some of which (story, time, enough) are emphasized in the video.

Song (with a part of it cut): “Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story”
By: Original Broadway Cast of Hamilton

Lyrics:
[WASHINGTON]
Let me tell you what I wish I’d known
When I was young and dreamed of glory
You have no control:
[WASHINGTON AND COMPANY]
Who lives
Who dies
Who tells your story?
[ANGELICA]
Every other founding father story gets told
Every other founding father gets to grow old
[BURR]
But when you’re gone, who remembers your name?
Who keeps your flame?
[BURR AND MEN]
Who tells your story?

Who tells your story?

[ANGELICA AND WOMEN]
Who tells your story?
Your story?

[WOMEN]
Eliza
[ELIZA]
I put myself back in the narrative
[WOMEN]
Eliza
[ELIZA]
I stop wasting time on tears
I live another fifty years
It’s not enough
[COMPANY]
Eliza
[ELIZA]
I interview every soldier who fought by your side
[MULLIGAN/LAFAYETTE/LAURENS]
She tells our story
[ELIZA]
I try to make sense of your thousands of pages of writings
You really do write like you’re running out of—
[ELIZA AND COMPANY]
Time
[ELIZA]
I rely on—
[ELIZA AND ANGELICA]
Angelica
[ELIZA]
While she’s alive—
[ELIZA AND ANGELICA]
We tell your story
[ELIZA]
She is buried in Trinity Church
[ELIZA AND ANGELICA]
Near you
[ELIZA]
When I needed her most, she was right on—
[ELIZA AND COMPANY]
Time
[ELIZA]
And I’m still not through
I ask myself, “What would you do if you had more—”
[ELIZA AND COMPANY]
Time
[ELIZA]
The Lord, in his kindness
He gives me what you always wanted
He gives me more—
[ELIZA AND COMPANY]
Time
[ELIZA]
I raise funds in D.C. for the Washington Monument
[WASHINGTON]
She tells my story
[ELIZA]
I speak out against slavery
You could have done so much more if you only had—
[ELIZA AND COMPANY]
Time
[ELIZA]
And when my time is up, have I done enough?
[ELIZA]
Will they tell our story?
[COMPANY]
Will they tell your story?

[ELIZA]
Oh. Can I show you what I’m proudest of?
[COMPANY]
The orphanage
[ELIZA]
I established the first private orphanage in New York City
[COMPANY]
The orphanage
[ELIZA]
I help to raise hundreds of children
I get to see them growing up
[COMPANY]
The orphanage
[ELIZA]
In their eyes I see you, Alexander
I see you every—
[ELIZA AND COMPANY]
Time
[ELIZA]
And when my time is up
Have I done enough?
Will they tell my story?


[COMPANY]
Will they tell your story?

[ELIZA]
Oh, I can’t wait to see you again
It’s only a matter of—
[ELIZA AND COMPANY]
Time
[COMPANY]
Will they tell your story?

Who lives, who dies, who tells your story?

Will they tell your story?

Who lives, who dies—

[COMPANY]
Time…

Time…

Time...

[FULL COMPANY]
Who tells your story?

[AlexandrinaTitania]

"in their eyes I see you alexander" literally hits me right in the heart because katara does see aang in their grandchildren's eyes... hALP

[belladonnaatropa]

I'm not crying..i'm just really good water bender

[dultwthjb]

Wow, Avatar and Hamilton suit each other really well!

[xteampraetorxx]

Who in the name gave you the right to break my heart with Hamilton and crush it to dust with Avatar the Last Air Bender

[jamjac]

OMG YOU ARE A FREAKING GENIUS. KATARA IS SO EXACTLY LIKE ELIZA IT HURTS.

[haileymefford]

I can't. The "In their eyes I see you, Alexander" makes me cry. Because it's true. Katara sees Aang through her children and grandchildren. He needed more time

[evilstar]

Fun Fact! Aang had the shortest lifespan out of all Avatars, dying at 66. All other avatars lived to the ages of up to a hundred! His young death is thought to be attributed to his extended stay in an iceberg affecting his health.

[naomistier-wood]

Lowkey the casting.. Omg. Katara as Eliza, Aang as Hamilton, Toph as anGELICA, Sokka as Washington, Lordy right in the feels. And Hamilton is my newest obsession, which means I've been listening to it Non-Stop (heh) as well as I just finished rewatching Avatar so I'm particularly raw rn

[dasiamay]

why does aang's death feel so personal to me wtf

[billcipher]

I was just watching some old Avatar videos, but then, everything changed when the onion nation attacked.

[eligirl]

They really messed up in Legend of Korra. She lost the connection to all the other Avatars, meaning the next Avatars are only gonna have Korra to depend on. No more Aang, Roku, Kioshi 😭😭😭

[sleepisfortheweak]

AS IF THIS SONG WASN'T HEARTBREAKING ENOUGH YOU MONSTER

[avvvvvvvm]

Long ago, the four nations lived together in harmony. Then, everything changed when Onion Nation attacked and made us all cry.

[TheAmityElf]

OW. I mean...Ow. I did not expect that level of pain.

[owellafehr]

Oh man, I don't even *know* Avatar all that well, but this just hits me right in the heart. Fantastic job!!!

[phoenixkh]

Whoahhh you got the characters just perfect I think :) I must admit I teared up a little bit. Especially where she was saying to Korra 'I can't wait to see you again' like it must have been so difficult for Katara seeing Korra and knowing her husband was there but she couldn't speak to him

[myriartz]

ok, first of all HOW DARE?!

second, the entire world needs to see this omg. this is beautiful.

[kiapet]

I kept it together until "In their eyes I see you, Alexander". Because, augh, she so very much does! My poor heart...

[KatieT]

As if I couldn't cry hard enough at "the orphanage.... In their eyes I see you Alexander" just by the original version, I almost had an emotional breakdown when the clip of Tenzin's children then switched to Aang.

[bookfan]

Hamilton, my newest obsession combined with my life-long love for Avatar, COMBINED WITH THIS SONG. Why do I torture myself like this? I literally cried harder with this video than I did the first time I heard this song! I really didn't know that was possible until now.