The Room Where It Happens

Chords

Standard

[Intro]

Em Fm

[Verse 1]
           Am                       F7
[Burr] Ah, Mr Secretary! [Ham] Mr Burr, sir!
               Dm7                      E7
[Burr] Did you hear the news about good old general Mercer?
      Am                 F7
[Ham] No [Burr] You know Clermont Street? 
                  Dm7                    E7
They renamed it after him, the Mercer legacy is secure 
[Ham] Sure 
N.C.
[Burr] And all he had to do was die. 

[Ham] That's a lot less work 

[Burr] We outta give it a try!

Now how're you gonna get your debt plan through?

[Ham] I guess I'm gonna finally have to listen to you
    Am    F7   Dm7    E7 
[Ham] Talk less, smile more
  Am            F7              Dm7                   E7
       Do whatever it takes to get my plan on the congress floor
       Am               F7
[Burr] Now, Madison and Jefferson are merciless
            Dm7            E7
[Ham] Well, hate the sin, love the sinner
       Am                           F7
[Madison] Hamilton! [Ham] I'm sorry, Burr, I've gotta go!
       Dm7                       E7
[Burr] But- [Ham] Decisions are happening over dinner.


Em Fm

       Am                    F7                   Dm7                E7                                
[Burr] Two Virginians and an immigrant walk into a room diametrically opposed, foes
Am                F7                        Dm7                        E7
They emerge with a compromise, having opened doors that were previously closed, bros
Am                        F7                      Dm7                   E7
The immigrant emerges with unprecedented financial power a system he can shape however he wants
Am            F7                       Dm7                    E7
The Virginians emerge with the nation’s capital and here’s the pièce de résistance:

[Chorus]
Am                    F7
No one else was in the room where it happened
Dm7                             E7
The room where it happened, the room where it happened
Am                     F7
No one else was in the room where it happened
Dm7                              E7
The room where it happened, the room where it happened
Am                          F7
No one really knows how the game is played
Dm7                            E7
The art of the trade, how the sausage gets made
F7
We just assume that it happens
E7
But no one else is in the room where it happens.         
 

Em Fm

[Verse 2]
       Am                         F7                           
[Burr] Thomas claims—
                               Dm7                  E7
Alexander was on Washington’s doorstep one day in distress and disarray
      Am                    F7                         
[Burr]Thomas claims— [Jeff] 
            Dm7
Alexander said— [Ham] I’ve nowhere else to turn!
                     E7
[Jeff] And basically begged me to join the fray
       Am                      F7     
[Burr] Thomas claims—

 [Jeff] I approached Madison and said— 
 Dm7                        E7
“I know you hate him, but let’s hear what he has to say.”
       Am                         F7                        
[Burr] Thomas claims— 
                          Dm7                    E7 
[Jeff] Well, I arranged the meeting. I arranged the menu, the venue, the seating

[Chorus]
            Am                     F7
[Burr] But! No one else was in the room where it happened
    Dm7                          E7
The room where it happened, the room where it happened
Am                     F7
No one else was in the room where it happened, 
Dm7                              E7
the room where it happened, the room where it happened
Am                          F7
No one really knows how the parties get to yes, 
Dm7                               E7
the pieces that are sacrificed in every game of chess
F7                                 E7
We just assume that it happens, but no one else is in the room where it happens.         


Em Fm

[Verse 3]
      Am                     F7
[Burr] Meanwhile, Madison is grappling with the fact 
     Dm7                     E7
that not every issue can be settled by committee
Am                     F7                              Dm7   (mute)
Meanwhile, congress is fighting over where to put the capital-
    E7
        it isn't pretty
      Am                         F7
Then Jefferson approaches with a dinner and invite 
    Dm7                    E7
and Madison responds with Virginian insight:
          Am                    F7
[Madison] Maybe we can solve one problem with another 
    Dm7                    E7
and win a victory for the Southerners, in other words—
(No Chord)
[Jeff] Oh-ho! [Mad] A quid pro quo [Jeff]I suppose 

[Mad] Wouldn’t you like to work a little closer to home?

[Jeff] Actually, I would [Mad] Well, I propose the Potomac

[Jeff] And you’ll provide him his votes? [Mad] Well, we’ll see how it goes

[Jeff] Let’s go!

[Chorus]
 Am                  F7
 No! —one else was in the room where it happened
Dm7                          E7
The room where it happened, the room where it happened
Am                     F7
No one else was in the room where it happened
Dm7                          E7
The room where it happened, the room where it happened
 Am        F7            Dm7                               E7
 My God! In God we trust, but we’ll never really know what got discussed
F7                          E7
Click-boom then it happened, and no one else was in the room where it happened

[Bridge]
Am
 Alexander Hamilton!
Am7
  What did they say to you to get you to sell New York City down the river?
C
  Alexander Hamilton!
C7
 Did Washington know about the dinner? 

Was there presidential pressure to deliver?
Dm
      Alexander Hamilton!
N.C.
Or did you know, even then, it doesn’t matter where you put the U.S. Capital?
     
Cuz we’ll have the banks, we’re in the same spot 

You got more than you gave!

And I wanted what I got

Em                             Fm
When you got skin in the game, you stay in the game
Em                             Fm 
But you don’t get a win unless you play in the game
Em
Oh, you get love for it. You get hate for it

You get nothing if you wait for it, wait for it, wait!
Em    Fm
  God help and forgive me
Em                             Fm
I wanna build something that’s gonna outlive me
E
What do you want, Burr? What do you want, Burr? 
E7
If you stand for nothing Burr, then what do you fall for?

[Chorus]
 Am F7              Dm7                         E7
I wanna be in the room where it happens, the room where it happens
Am F7            Dm7                     E7
I wanna be in the room where it happens, the room where it happens 
 Am            F7
The art of the compromise— 
Dm7                 E7
Hold your nose and close your eyes
Am                     F7
We want our leaders to save the day—
 Dm7                                  E7
But we don’t get a say in what they trade away
  Am            F7
We dream of a brand new start—
Dm7                  E7
But we dream in the dark for the most part
Dm7
Dark as a tomb where it happens
E7
I've got to be in the room where it happens
                                         
[Company]    
Am          Ddim
  I've got to be...
Am     Ddim
 I've got to be...  The room where it happens
Am     Ddim
 I've got to be...  The room where it happens
Am                  Ddim
 I've got to be... I've gotta be... In the room

            Am
Click-boom!