Ten Things One Thing lyrics

[MALE COMPANY]

One two three four

[FULL COMPANY (EXCEPT HAMILTON AND BURR)]

Five six seven eight nine—

[BURR]

There are ten things you need to know

[COMPANY]

Number one!

[BURR]

We rode across the Hudson at dawn

My friend, William P. Van Ness signed on as my—

[COMPANY]

Number two!

[BURR]

Hamilton arrived with his crew

Nathaniel Pendleton and a doctor that he knew

[COMPANY]

Number three!

[BURR]

I watched Hamilton examine the terrain

I wish I could tell you what was happ'ning in his brain

Just apologize, we have worthier pursuits!

[COMPANY]

Most disputes die and no one shoots!

Number four!

[BURR]

Hamilton drew first position

Looking, to the world, like a man on a mission

This is a soldier with a marksman's ability

The doctor turned around so he could have deniability

[COMPANY]

Five!

[BURR]

Now, I didn't know this at the time

But we were—

[BURR/HAMILTON]

In the same spot

[BURR]

Your son died,

[HAMILTON]

My son died,

[BURR/HAMILTON]

Is that Why—

[COMPANY]

Six!

[BURR]

He examined his gun with such rigor?

I watched as he methodically fiddled with the trigger

[COMPANY]

Seven!

[BURR]

Confession time? Here's what I got:

My fellow soldiers'll tell you I'm a terrible shot

[COMPANY]

Number eight!

[BURR/HAMILTON/ENSEMBLE MEN]

Your last chance to negotiate

Send in your seconds, see if they can set the record straight

[BURR]

They won't teach you this in your classes

But look it up, Hamilton was wearing his glasses

Why? If not to take deadly aim?

That's when I realized this was not a game

I had only one thought before the slaughter:

This man will not make an orphan of my daughter

[COMPANY]

Number nine!

[BURR]

Look him in the eyes, aim no higher

Summon all the courage you require

Then count:

[COMPANY]

One two three four five six seven eight nine

[BURR AND COMPANY]

He aims his pistol at the sky—

[BURR]

Wait!

[COMPANY]

Nine eight seven six five

[MALE COMPANY]

Four three two—

[HAMILTON]

One last thought

[COMPANY]

Number one!

[HAMILTON]

Before we got in the boat to cross the Hudson

I stopped to write a note

Actually I wrote—

[HAMILTON AND COMPANY]

Two!

[HAMILTON]

Just in case I didn't make it through

I want the world to know what I intended to do

[COMPANY]

Number three!

[HAMILTON]

If I shoot first, and throw it away

He has to yield, we both get to live another day

I know this puts me in a difficult spot

But I've got to throw away my shot

[COMPANY]

Number four!

[HAMILTON]

I get lucky, I draw first position

I stand facing east as I load my ammunition

The sun is in my eyes, I am almost giddy

As I watch it slowly rise over my New York City

[COMPANY]

Five!

[HAMILTON]

I start to shake when I realize

That we are—

[BURR/HAMILTON]

In the same spot

[HAMILTON]

My son died

[BURR]

Your son died

[BURR/HAMILTON]

Is that Why—

[COMPANY]

Six!

[HAMILTON]

I examine the gun that we shared?

Philip never hurt a soul, he must've been so scared

[COMPANY]

Seven!

[HAMILTON]

My Eliza is still asleep

I left her a letter, I could've written it better

[COMPANY]

Number eight!

[BURR/HAMILTON/ENSEMBLE MEN]

Your last chance to negotiate

Send in your seconds, see if they can set the record straight

[HAMILTON]

I put on my glasses, so I can see if Burr is softening

I see him glaring back at me

He's always hated dueling, hated confrontation

I never had his instinct for self-preservation

I feel a sense of calm fill me

It's not in his political interest to kill me

[COMPANY]

Nine!

[HAMILTON]

My last thought is of Eliza

Maybe I can get back home before she opens her eyes

They put us through our paces, we count to ten

God, I can't wait to see her again

[COMPANY]

One two three four five six seven eight nine

[BURR AND COMPANY]

He aims his pistol at the sky—

[BURR]

Wait!