the room where it happens off broadway
Ah, Mister Secretary
Mister Burr, sir
Did'ya 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 oughta give it a try
Ha
Now, how’re you gonna get your debt plan through?
I guess I’m gonna fin’ly have to listen to you
Really?
“Talk less. Smile more.”
Hahaha
Do whatever it takes to get my plan on the Congress floor
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 bar
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         Assume that it happens         happens    But no one else was 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 basic’ly 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 yesssss               Parties get to yesssss         The pieces that are sacrificed    in            Every game of chess               Every game of chess         We just assume that it Assume that it happens   happens    But no one else was 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—
Company screams in chaos
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?
Cuz we’ll have the banks
New York is undiminished
You got more than you gave
Checkmate, game finished
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         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         Oh         The room where it happens         Oh I wanna be in            The room where it happens         I wanna be         The room where it happens         I wanna be         The room where it happens             I've got to be I wanna be in           I've got to be               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—
Yeah but we dream in the dark for the most part
Dark as a tomb where it happens
      I've got to be in the...              The room where it happens             I've got to be in the...             The room where it happens                 I've got to be in the...                   The room where it happens                 I've got to be, oh                    I wanna be in                   The room where it happens                      Click-boom!               Click-boom!      