The Room Where It Happens lyrics

[BURR]

Ah, Mister Secretary

[HAMILTON]

Mister Burr, sir

[BURR]

Didja hear the news about good old General Mercer?

[HAMILTON]

No

[BURR]

You know Clermont Street?

[HAMILTON]

Yeah

[BURR]

They renamed it after him. The Mercer legacy is secure

[HAMILTON]

Sure

[BURR]

And all he had to do was die

[HAMILTON]

That’s a lot less work

[BURR]

We oughta give it a try

[HAMILTON]

Ha

[BURR]

Now how’re you gonna get your debt plan through?

[HAMILTON]

I guess I’m gonna fin’ly have to listen to you

[BURR]

Really?

[HAMILTON]

“Talk less. Smile more.”

[BURR]

Ha

[HAMILTON]

Do whatever it takes to get my plan on the Congress floor

[BURR]

Now, Madison and Jefferson are merciless.

[HAMILTON]

Well, hate the sin, love the sinner

[MADISON]

Hamilton!

[HAMILTON]

I’m sorry Burr, I’ve gotta go

[BURR]

But—

[HAMILTON]

Decisions are happening over dinner

[BURR]

Two Virginians and an immigrant walk into a room

[BURR AND ENSEMBLE]

Diametric’ly opposed, foes

[BURR]

They emerge with a compromise, having opened doors that were

[BURR AND ENSEMBLE]

Previously closed

[ENSEMBLE]

Bros

[BURR]

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:

[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

No one really knows how the game is played

The art of the trade

[BURR AND ENSEMBLE]

How the sausage gets made

We just assume that it happens

[BURR]

But no one else is in

[BURR AND ENSEMBLE]

The room where it happens.

[BURR AND COMPANY]

Thomas claims—

[JEFFERSON]

Alexander was on Washington’s doorstep one day

In distress ‘n disarray

[BURR AND COMPANY]

Thomas claims—

[JEFFERSON]

Alexander said—

[HAMILTON]

I’ve nowhere else to turn!

[JEFFERSON]

And basic’ly begged me to join the fray

[BURR AND COMPANY]

Thomas claims—

[JEFFERSON]

I approached Madison and said—

“I know you hate ‘im, but let’s hear what he has to say.”

[BURR AND COMPANY]

Thomas claims—

[JEFFERSON]

Well, I arranged the meeting

I arranged the menu, the venue, the seating

[BURR]

But!

No one else was in—

[BURR AND COMPANY]

The room where it happened

The room where it happened

The room where it happened

[BURR]

No one else was in—

[BURR AND COMPANY]

The room where it happened

The room where it happened

The room where it happened

[BURR]

No one really knows how the

Parties get to yesssss

The pieces that are sacrificed in

Ev’ry game of chesssss

We just assume that it happens

But no one else is in

The room where it happens.

[BURR AND COMPANY]

Meanwhile—

[BURR]

Madison is grappling with the fact that not ev’ry issue can be settled by committee

[COMPANY]

Meanwhile—

[BURR]

Congress is fighting over where to put the capital—

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—

[JEFFERSON]

Oh-ho!

[MADISON]

A quid pro quo

[JEFFERSON]

I suppose

[MADISON]

Wouldn’t you like to work a little closer to home?

[JEFFERSON]

Actually, I would

[MADISON]

Well, I propose the Potomac

[JEFFERSON]

And you’ll provide him his votes?

[MADISON]

Well, we’ll see how it goes

[JEFFERSON]

Let’s go

[BURR]

No!

[COMPANY]

—one else was in

The room where it happened

[BURR AND COMPANY]

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!

[BURR AND COMPANY]

In God we trust

But we’ll never really know what got discussed

Click-boom then it happened

[BURR]

And no one else was in the room where it happened

[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?

[COMPANY]

Alexander Hamilton!

[BURR]

Or did you know, even then, it doesn’t matter

Where you put the U.S. Capital?

[HAMILTON]

Cuz we’ll have the banks

We’re in the same spot

[BURR]

You got more than you gave

[HAMILTON]

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…

[HAMILTON AND COMPANY]

Wait for it, wait for it, wait!

[HAMILTON]

God help and forgive me

I wanna build

Something that’s gonna

Outlive me

[HAMILTON/JEFFERSON/

MADISON/WASHINGTON]

What do you want, Burr?

What do you want, Burr?

If you stand for nothing

Burr, then what do you fall for?

[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

[BURR]

I

Wanna be

In the room where it happens

I

I wanna be in the room…

Oh

Oh

I wanna be

I wanna be

I’ve got to be

I’ve got to be

In the room

In that big ol’ room

[COMPANY]

The art of the compromise—

[BURR]

Hold your nose and close your eyes

[COMPANY]

We want our leaders to save the day—

[BURR]

But we don’t get a say in what they trade away

[COMPANY]

We dream of a brand new start—

[BURR]

But we dream in the dark for the most part

[BURR AND COMPANY]

Dark as a tomb where it happens

[BURR]

I’ve got to be in

The room…

I’ve got to be...

[COMPANY]

The room where it happens

[BURR]

I’ve got to be...

[COMPANY]

The room where it happens

[BURR]

Oh, I’ve got to be in

The room where it happens…

I’ve got to be, I’ve gotta be, I’ve gotta be…

In the room!

[COMPANY]

I wanna be in the room

Where it happens!

[BURR AND COMPANY]

Click-boom!