The Room Where It Happens

Ah, Mr. Secretary

Mr. 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

Yeah, that's a lot less work

We ought to give it a try

Ha

Now how you gonna get your debt plan through?

I guess I'm gonna finally have to listen to you

Really?

Talk less, smile more

Haha!

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 gotta go

But-

Decisions are happening over dinner

Two Virginians and an immigrant walk into a room

Diametrically 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

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

Alexander was on Washington's doorstep one day in distress and 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 him

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"

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

It isn't pretty

Then Jefferson approaches with the dinner and invite

And Madison responds with Virginian insight

Maybe we could 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 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? What do you want, Burr? What do you want?

If you stand for nothing, Burr, what do you fall for?

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 wanna be in the room where it happens

I wanna be in

The room where it happens

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

The room where it happens

I wanna be in the room where it happens

I wanna be

The room where it happens

I wanna be in

The room where it happens

I've got to be, I've got to be

I wanna be in the room where it happens

In the room

The room where it happens

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

I've got to be in the room

The room where it happens

I gotta be, I gotta be, I wanna be in

The room where it happens

In the room

I wanna be in the room where it happens

Click-boom!