The Room Where It Happens Lyrics - Leslie Odom, Jr.

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 

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." 

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 

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 '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 

The pieces that are sacrificed in 

Ev'ry game of chesssss 

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 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? 

Cuz 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? 

If you stand for nothing 

Burr, then what do you fall for? (What do you want?) 

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 (the room where it happens) 

In the room where it happens 

I 

I wanna be in the room... 

Oh 

Oh 

I wanna be 

I wanna be 

I've got to be 

I've got to be 

In that room 

In that big ol' room 

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... (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... 

I've got to be, I've gotta be, I've gotta be... (room where it happens) 

In the room! (where it happens) 

Click-boom! 

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