Hamilton - The Room Where It Happens
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Note: This is an ensemble number, but rather than writing out all of who sing what, I've just credited
the line to whoever predominantly sings the melody line.
Intro
Verse 1
[Burr] Ah, Mr Secretary!
[Hamilton] Mr Burr, sir!
[Burr] Did you hear the news
about good old general Mercer?
[Ham] No [Burr] You know
Clermont Street? [Ham] Yeah
[Burr] They renamed it after
him, the Mercer legacy is secure
[Ham] Sure
N.C.
[Burr] And all he had to do was die. [Ham] That's a lot less work
[Burr] We outta give it a try! [Ham] Ha!
[Burr] Now how're you gonna get your debt plan through?
[Ham] I guess I'm gonna finally have to listen to you [Burr] Really?
[Ham] Talk less, smile
more [Burr] Ha!
[Ham] Do whatever it takes to
get my plan on the congress
floor
[Burr] Now, Madison and
Jefferson are merciless
[Ham] Well, hate the sin, love
the sinner
[Madison] Hamilton! [Ham] I'm
sorry, Burr, I've gotta go!
[Burr] But- [Ham] Decisions are
happening over dinner.
[Burr] Two Virginians and an
immigrant walk into a room
diametrically opposed, foes
They emerge with a compromise,
having opened doors that were
previously closed, bros
The immigrant emerges with
unprecedented financial power a
system he can shape however he
wants
The Virginians emerge with the
nation’s capital and here’s the
pièce de résistance:
Chorus
No one else was in the room
where it happened
The room where it happened, the
room where it happened
No one else was in the room
where it happened
The room where it happened, the
room where it happened
No one really knows how the game
is played
The art of the trade, how the
sausage gets made
We just assume that it happens
But no one else is in the room
where it happens.
Verse 2
[Burr] Thomas claims—
[Jefferson] Alexander was on
Washington’s doorstep one day in
distress and disarray
[Burr]Thomas claims— [Jeff]
Alexander said— [Ham] I’ve
nowhere else to turn!
[Jeff] And basically begged me
to join the fray
[Burr] Thomas claims— [Jeff] I
approached Madison and said—
“I know you hate him, but let’s
hear what he has to say.”
[Burr] Thomas claims— [Jeff]
Well, I arranged the meeting. I
arranged the menu, the venue,
the seating
Chorus
[Burr] But! No one else was in
the room where it happened
The room where it happened, the
room where it happened
No one else was in the room
where it happened,
the room where it happened, the
room where it happened
No one really knows how the
parties get to yes,
the pieces that are sacrificed
in every game of chess
We just assume that it happens,
but no one else is in the room
where it happens.
Verse 3
[Burr] Meanwhile, Madison is
grappling with the fact
that not every issue can be
settled by committee
Am F7 Dm7 (mute)
Meanwhile, congress is fighting over where to put the capital-
[company screams incoherently] it isn't pretty
Then Jefferson approaches with a
dinner and invite
and Madison responds with
Virginian insight:
[Madison] Maybe we can solve one
problem with another
and win a victory for the
Southerners, in other words—
(No Chord)
[Jeff] Oh-ho! [Mad] A quid pro quo [Jeff]I suppose
[Mad] Wouldn’t you like to work a little closer to home?
[Jeff] Actually, I would [Mad] Well, I propose the Potomac
[Jeff] And you’ll provide him his votes? [Mad] Well, we’ll see how it goes
[Jeff] Let’s go!
Chorus
N.C. F7
[Burr] No! —one else was in the room where it happened
The room where it happened, the
room where it happened
No one else was in the room
where it happened
The room where it happened, the
room where it happened
[Burr] My God! In God we trust,
but we’ll never really know what
got discussed
N.C. F7 F#7 G N.C. E7
Click-boom then it happened, and no one else was in the room where it happened
Bridge
[Company] Alexander Hamilton!
[Burr]What did they say to you
to get you to sell New York City
down the river?
[Company] Alexander Hamilton!
[Burr] Did Washington know about
the dinner?
Was there presidential pressure to deliver?
N.C.
[Company] Alexander Hamilton!
[Burr] Or did you know, even
then, it doesn’t matter where
you put the U.S. Capital?
[Ham] Cuz we’ll have the banks,
we’re in the same spot [Burr]
You got more than you gave!
N.C.
[Ham] And I wanted what I got
When you got skin in the game,
you stay in the game
But you don’t get a win unless
you play in the game
Oh, you get love for it. You get
hate for it
You get nothing if you wait for it, wait for it, wait!
God help and forgive me
I wanna build something that’s
gonna outlive me
[Everyone] What do you want,
Burr? What do you want, Burr?
If you stand for nothing Burr,
then what do you fall for?
Chorus
[Burr] I wanna be in the
room where it happens, the room
where it happens
I wanna be in the room where it
happens, the room where it
happens
(x5, build in a crescendo, on third return repeat go to regular chorus)
[Comp] The art of the
compromise—
Dm7 N.C.
[Burr] Hold your nose and close your eyes
[Comp] We want our leaders
to save the day—
Dm7 N.C.
[Burr] But we don’t get a say in what they trade away
[Comp] We dream of a brand
new start—
[Burr] But we dream in the
dark for the most part
[Burr] Dark as a tomb where
it happens
I've got to be in the room where
it happens
[Company, while Burr riffs overtop]
I've got to be...
I've got to be... The room
where it happens
I've got to be... The room
where it happens
I've got to be... I've gotta
be... In the room
Click-boom!
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