"The Room Where It Happens" is a song from the musical Hamilton. It features Aaron Burr singing about how he wants to be in a position of political power as he foreshadows how he is going to kill Hamilton.
Performers[]
| Character | Workshop | Broadway | First U.S. Tour | West End | Second U.S. Tour | Third U.S. Tour | 2021 Film |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aaron Burr | Utkarsh Ambudkar | Leslie Odom Jr. | Joshua Henry | Giles Terera | Nik Walker | Donald Webber Jr. | Leslie Odom Jr. |
| Alexander Hamilton | Lin-Manuel Miranda | Lin-Manuel Miranda | Michael Luwoye | Jamael Westman | Joseph Morales | Lin-Manuel Miranda | Lin-Manuel Miranda |
| Thomas Jefferson | Daveed Diggs | Daveed Diggs | Jordan Donica | Jason Pennycooke | Kyle Scatliffe | Simon Longnight | Daveed Diggs |
| James Madison | Joshua Henry | Okieriete Onaodowan | Mathenee Treco | Tarinn Callender | Fergie L. Philippe | Brandon Armstrong | Okieriete Onaodowan |
Lyrics[]
Ah, Mister Secretary
Mister Burr, sir
Did you hear the news about good old General Mercer?
No
You know Clermont Street?
Yeah
They renamed it after him
The Mercer legacy is secure
Sure
And all he had to do was die
That's a lot less work
We ought to give it a try
Ha
Now how're you gonna get your debt plan through?
I guess I'm gonna finally have to listen to you
Really?
"Talk less. Smile more."
Ha ha
Do whatever it takes to get my plan on the Congress floor
Now,Madison and Jefferson are merciless
Well, hate the sin, love the sinner
Hamilton!
I'm sorry Burr, I've gotta go
But...
Decisions are happening over dinner
Two Virginians and an immigrant walk into a room
Diametric'ly 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:
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
The room where it happened
(The room where it happened)
No one really knows how the game is played
(Game is played)
The art of the trade
How the sausage gets made
(How the sausage gets made)
We just assume that it happens
(Assume that it happens)
But no one else is in
The room where it happens
(The room where it happens)
Thomas claims,
"Alexander was on Washington's doorstep one day
In distress 'n disarray"
Thomas claims,
"Alexander said:
'I've nowhere else to turn!'
And basically begged me to join the fray"
Thomas claims,
"I approached Madison and said,
'I know you hate 'im, but let's hear what he has to say.'"
Thomas claims,
"Well, I arranged the meeting
I arranged the menu, the venue, the seating"
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
(Parties get to yes)
The pieces that are sacrificed in
Every game of chess
(Every game of chess)
We just assume that it happens
(Assume that it happens)
But no one else is in
The room where it happens
(The room where it happens)
Meanwhile
Madison is grappling with the fact that not ev'ry issue can be settled by committee
Meanwhile
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:
"Maybe we can solve one problem with another and win a victory for the Southerners, in other words"
"Oh-ho"
"A quid pro quo"
"I suppose"
"Wouldn't you like to work a little closer to home?"
"Actually, I would"
"Well, I propose the Potomac"
"And you'll provide him his votes?"
"Well, we'll see how it goes"
"Let's go"
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
And 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?
'Cause we'll have the banks
We're in the same spot
You got more than you gave
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
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?)
I
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
(I wanna be in the room where it happens)
Wanna be
(The room where it happens)
In the room where it happens
(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)
I wanna be
(Where it happens)
I wanna be
(Where it happens)
I've got to be, I've got to be
(I wanna be in the room where it happens)
In that room
(The room where it happens)
In that big ol' room
(The room where it happens)
(The art of the compromise)
Hold your nose and close your eyes
(We want our leaders to save the day)
But we don't get a say in what they trade away
(We dream of a brand new start)
But we dream in the dark for the most part
Dark as a tomb where it happens
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!
(Click-boom!)
Other Appearances[]
- The song was featured in Hamilton (Original Broadway Cast Recording) album.
- An instrumental version was featured in the album The Hamilton Instrumentals.
- The song was performed live in the White House on March 14, 2016.
- This clip was featured on PBS's Great Performances documentary series.
- The Biden campaign advertisement features the song, promoting voters to vote for the 2020 election.
Gallery[]
Images[]
.jpg "HamiltonLDN dec17centre-Giles-Terera-Aaron-Burr-with-West-End-Cast-of-Hamilton-Photo-credit-Matthew-Murphy-e1527761696969 (1).jpg (41 KB)")
Videos[]
Official[]
Covers[]
 ]] Songs
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