Hamilton - The Room Where It Happens Chords & Tabs
by Misc Musicals
[Content]
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]
Em Fm
[Verse 1]
Am F7
[Burr] Ah, Mr Secretary! [Hamilton] Mr Burr, sir!
Dm7 E7
[Burr] Did you hear the news about good old general Mercer?
Am F7
[Ham] No [Burr] You know Clermont Street? [Ham] Yeah
Dm7 E7
[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?
Am F7 Dm7 E7
[Ham] Talk less, smile more [Burr] Ha!
Am F7 Dm7 E7
[Ham] Do whatever it takes to get my plan on the congress floor
Am F7
[Burr] Now, Madison and Jefferson are merciless
Dm7 E7
[Ham] Well, hate the sin, love the sinner
Am F7
[Madison] Hamilton! [Ham] I'm sorry, Burr, I've gotta go!
Dm7 E7
[Burr] But- [Ham] Decisions are happening over dinner.
Em Fm
Am F7 Dm7 E7
[Burr] Two Virginians and an immigrant walk into a room diametrically opposed, foes
Am F7 Dm7 E7
They emerge with a compromise, having opened doors that were previously closed, bros
Am F7 Dm7 E7
The immigrant emerges with unprecedented financial power a system he can shape however he wants
Am F7 Dm7 C
The Virginians emerge with the nation’s capital and here’s the pièce de résistance:
[Chorus]
Am F7
No one else was in the room where it happened
Dm7 E7
The room where it happened, the room where it happened
Am F7
No one else was in the room where it happened
Dm7 E7
The room where it happened, the room where it happened
Am F7
No one really knows how the game is played
Dm7 E7
The art of the trade, how the sausage gets made
F7
We just assume that it happens
E7
But no one else is in the room where it happens.
Em Fm
[Verse 2]
Am F7 Dm7 E7
[Burr] Thomas claims— [Jefferson] Alexander was on Washington’s doorstep one day in distress and disarray
Am F7 Dm7
[Burr]Thomas claims— [Jeff] Alexander said— [Ham] I’ve nowhere else to turn!
E7
[Jeff] And basically begged me to join the fray
Am F7
[Burr] Thomas claims— [Jeff] I approached Madison and said—
Dm7 E7
“I know you hate him, but let’s hear what he has to say.”
Am F7 Dm7 E7
[Burr] Thomas claims— [Jeff] Well, I arranged the meeting. I arranged the menu, the venue, the seating
[Chorus]
Am F7
[Burr] But! No one else was in the room where it happened
Dm7 E7
The room where it happened, the room where it happened
Am F7
No one else was in the room where it happened,
Dm7 E7
the room where it happened, the room where it happened
Am F7
No one really knows how the parties get to yes,
Dm7 E7
the pieces that are sacrificed in every game of chess
F7 G
We just assume that it happens, but no one else is in the room where it happens.
Em Fm
[Verse 3]
Am F7
[Burr] Meanwhile, Madison is grappling with the fact
Dm7 E7
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
Am F7
Then Jefferson approaches with a dinner and invite
Dm7 E7
and Madison responds with Virginian insight:
Am F7
[Madison] Maybe we can solve one problem with another
Dm7 E7
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
Dm7 E7
The room where it happened, the room where it happened
Am F7
No one else was in the room where it happened
Dm7 E7
The room where it happened, the room where it happened
Am F7 Dm7 E7 D#
[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]
Am
[Company] Alexander Hamilton!
Am7
[Burr]What did they say to you to get you to sell New York City down the river?
C
[Company] Alexander Hamilton!
C7
[Burr] Did Washington know about the dinner?
Was there presidential pressure to deliver?
N.C.
[Company] Alexander Hamilton!
A5 B5 C5 D5 E5 F5 G5 A5
[Burr] Or did you know, even then, it doesn’t matter where you put the U.S. Capital?
C5 D5
[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
Em Fm
When you got skin in the game, you stay in the game
Em Fm
But you don’t get a win unless you play in the game
Em
Oh, you get love for it. You get hate for it
You get nothing if you wait for it, wait for it, wait!
Em Fm
God help and forgive me
Em Fm
I wanna build something that’s gonna outlive me
E
[Everyone] What do you want, Burr? What do you want, Burr?
E7
If you stand for nothing Burr, then what do you fall for?
[Chorus]
Am F7 Dm7 E7
[Burr] I wanna be in the room where it happens, the room where it happens
Am F7 Dm7 E7
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)
Am Am F7
[Comp] The art of the compromise—
Dm7 N.C.
[Burr] Hold your nose and close your eyes
Am Am F7
[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
Am Am F7
[Comp] We dream of a brand new start—
Dm7 E7
[Burr] But we dream in the dark for the most part
F7 G5
[Burr] Dark as a tomb where it happens
D7 E7
I've got to be in the room where it happens
[Company, while Burr riffs overtop]
Am E7
I've got to be...
Am E7
I've got to be... The room where it happens
Am E7
I've got to be... The room where it happens
Am E7
I've got to be... I've gotta be... In the room
Am
Click-boom!
