ten things one thing
One two three four
Five six seven eight nine-
There are ten things you need to know
Number one!
We rode across the Hudson at dawn
My friend, William P. Van Ness signed on as my-
Number two!
Hamilton arrived with his crew
Nathaniel Pendleton and a doctor that he knew
Number three!
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!
Most disputes die and no one shoots!
Number four!
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
Five!
Now, I didn't know this at the time
But we were-
In the same spot
Your son died, is that why
In the same spot
My son died, is that why
Six!
He examined his gun with such rigor?
I watched as he methodically fiddled with the trigger
Seven!
Confession time?  Here's what I got:
My fellow soldiers'll tell you I'm a terrible shot
Number eight!
Your last chance to negotiate
Send in your seconds, see if they can set the record straight
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
Number nine!
Look him in the eyes, aim no higher
Summon all the courage you require
Then count:
One two three four five six seven eight nine
He aims his pistol at the sky-
Wait!
Nine eight seven six five
Four three two-
One last thought
Number one!
Before we got in the boat to cross the Hudson
I stopped to write a note
Actually I wrote-
Two!
Just in case I didn't make it through
I want the world to know what I intended to do
Number three!
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
Number four!
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
Five!
I start to shake when I realize
That we are-
In the same spot
My son died, is that why
In the same spot
Your son died, is that why
Six!
I examine the gun that we shared?
Philip never hurt a soul, he must've been so scared
Seven!
My Eliza is still asleep
I left her a letter, I could've written it better
Number eight!
Your last chance to negotiate
Send in your seconds, see if they can set the record straight
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
Nine!
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
One two three four five six seven eight nine
He aims his pistol at the sky-
Wait!