The Room Where It Happens [ErinEl] 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 finally have to listen to you

[BURR]
Really?

[HAMILTON]
“Talk less. Smile more.”

[BURR]
Haha

[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 COMPANY]
Diametrically opposed, foes

[BURR]
They emerge with a compromise, having opened doors that were
[BURR AND COMPANY]
Previously closed

[COMPANY]
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, COMPANY, BOTH]
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

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 basically 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, COMPANY, BOTH]
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

Meanwhile
Madison is grappling with the fact that
Not every issue can be settled by committee

Meanwhile
Congress is fighting over where to put the capital

[Company screams in chaos]

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, COMPANY, BOTH]
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

My God!
In God we trust
But we’ll never really know what got discussed
Click-boom then it happened
No one else was in the room where it happened

Alexander Hamilton!
What did they say to you to get you to sell New York City down the river?

Alexander Hamilton!
Did Washington know about the dinner?
Was there Presidential pressure to deliver?

Alexander Hamilton!
Or did you know, even then, it doesn’t matter
Where you put the U.S. Capital?

[HAMILTON]
'Cause 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, COMPANY]
What do you want, Burr?
(What do you want, Burr?)
What do you want, Burr?
(What do you want, Burr?)
If you stand for nothing
(What do you want, Burr?)
Burr, then what do you fall for?
(What do you want?)

[BURR, COMPANY, BOTH]
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

(I wanna be in the room where it happens)
I
(The room where it happens)
Wanna be in
The room where it happens
I
(I wanna be in the room where it happens)
I wanna be in the room…
(The room where it happens)
Oh (The room where it happens)
Oh (I wanna be in the room where it happens)
(The room where it happens)
I wanna be
(The room where it happens)
I wanna be

I’ve got to be
(I wanna be in the room where it happens)
I’ve got to be
(The room where it happens)
In that room
(The room where it happens)
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, COMPANY, BOTH]
I’ve got to be in
The room… (The room where it happens)

I’ve got to be...
(The room where it happens)

I’ve got to be...
(The room where it happens)

Oh, I’ve got to be in
The room where it happens…
(The room where it happens)
I’ve got to be
I’ve gotta be
(The room where it happens)
I’ve gotta be…
In the room!
(I wanna be in the room where it happens)

Click-boom!