The Hamilton TikTok Trend: Why Are We All ‘Coming Back to Sleep?’
It’s 2025, Hamilton is celebrating a decade on Broadway, and social media—never one to miss a pop culture birthday—is having a full-blown musical moment.
The Hamilton TikTok trend has swept in like Alexander himself: unexpectedly, vibrantly, and with a whole lot of period costumes crammed into bedrooms and bathrooms across the globe.
At the heart of this new wave? “Best of Wives and Best of Women.” TikTok users (and let’s be real, a lot of them are musical theater kids or their joyful descendants) are reenacting the scene where Eliza Hamilton calls out “come back to sleep” as an exhausted, restless Alexander tiptoes out in the night.
In homage to Lin-Manuel Miranda’s lyrics and the show’s brooding, candle-lit vibe, creators bring a combination of earnestness and tongue-in-cheek humor—catching that strange space where the music’s power meets TikTok’s need for dramatic exaggeration.
How Did This Trend Take Off?
Part anniversary, part nostalgia bomb, part “I just want an excuse to wear a cravat”—the Hamilton TikTok trend reemerged as the stage show returned to theaters for its milestone year. Credit to the musical’s official account for stirring the pot with clips and challenges, but the best moments come from regular users.
Personal favorite: @actressbecc channeling her inner Eliza, calling “come back to sleep” in a way that made 3.3 million people double-tap their screens.
Another creator, @ashbyflorence, switched roles entirely and hilariously played both Eliza and Alexander—side glances and pillow-throwing included. If you see a creator dramatically tiptoeing past a faux partner, getting caught, and dropping to the floor in defeat, you’re definitely in “HamiltonTok.”
Who’s Participating?
What started with diehard Broadway fans has broadened out considerably:
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Young women in 1800s-inspired nightgowns, sashes askew, moonwalking across hardwood floors.
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Guys flipping the script and taking the Eliza lines for themselves—because on TikTok, anyone can be the protagonist.
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Musical theater teachers roped into duets because “my kids said I have Eliza energy.”
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Dogs and cats (naturally) in their own “come back to sleep” parodies.
Even creators who have never seen the show are jumping in, drawn by the music, the drama, or just the satisfaction of nailing a slow-motion sneak out of a room.
Why Does This Work So Well?
Hamilton has always thrived on deeply felt, cleverly worded emotion. On TikTok, that translates into sharable little dramas—short bursts of storytelling that perfectly fit the platform’s looped format.
It doesn’t hurt that Hamilton’s language is so rhythmic and meme-able; try saying “I’m not throwing away my shot” or “come back to sleep” with a straight face when you’re filming in your parents’ living room.
TikTok gives fans permission to be a little goofy, a little sincere, and a lot melodramatic. Plus, there’s a fun sense of community—when you finish a video, you can scroll to see someone else’s take, remix a duet, or add your own lighting and costuming experiments.
Why Now (and Will It Last)?
The timing probably isn’t a coincidence. The musical’s tenth anniversary brings waves of nostalgia, and the return of live stage performances means Hamilton is back in the newsfeeds—and in people’s heads, maybe a bit obsessively.
Couple that with a generation raised on short-form video and endless FYP scrolling, and you get a trend that’s both weirdly cross-generational and incredibly specific.
How long will it last? That’s the fun of TikTok—you never really know. For now, Hamilton fans (and the “Eliza, go back to sleep!” crowd) seem determined to keep the show’s spirit alive, one recreating, lip-syncing sneak-out at a time. Whether you’re a founding father, a background dancer, or just along for the ride, there’s a place for your take in this unending musical.
