Broadway - Hamilton - The Room Where It Happens Chords

Opening riff:
Em Fm
(This riff is repeated multiple times throughout the song)


           Am                       F
[Burr] Ah, Mr Secretary! [Hamilton] Mr Burr, sir!
               Dm                      E
[Burr] Did you hear the news about good old general Mercer?
      Am                 F
[Ham] No [Burr] You know Clermont Street? [Ham] Yeah 
                       Dm                    E
[Burr] They renamed it after him, the Mercer legacy is secure [Ham] Sure 
(No chord)
[Burr] And all he had to do was die. [Ham] That's a lot less work 

[Burr] We outta give it a try! [Ham] Ha!

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

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

Em Fm
       Am                    F                     Dm                 E                                
[Burr] Two Virginians and an immigrant walk into a room diametrically opposed, foes
Am                 F                          Dm                        E
They emerge with a compromise, having opened doors that were previously closed, bros
Am                         F                       Dm                    E
The immigrant emerges with unprecedented financial power a system he can shape however he wants
Am             F                        Dm                      E
The Virginians emerge with the nation's capital and here's the piece de resistance:

Am                     F
No one else was in the room where it happened
Dm                          E
The room where it happened, the room where it happened
Am                     F
No one else was in the room where it happened
Dm                              E
The room where it happened, the room where it happened
Am                          F
No one really knows how the game is played
Dm                            E
The art of the trade, how the sausage gets made
Dm
We just assume that it happens
E
But no one else is in the room where it happens.         
 
Em Fm
       Am                         F                             Dm                  E
[Burr] Thomas claims— [Jefferson] Alexander was on Washington's doorstep one day in distress and disarray
      Am                    F                          Dm
[Burr]Thomas claims— [Jeff] Alexander said— [Ham] I've nowhere else to turn!
                     E
[Jeff] And basically begged me to join the fray
       Am                      F     
[Burr] Thomas claims— [Jeff] I approached Madison and said— 
 Dm                        E
'I know you hate him, but let's hear what he has to say.'
       Am                         F                        Dm                       E 
[Burr] Thomas claims— [Jeff] Well, I arranged the meeting. I arranged the menu, the venue, the seating

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

Em Fm
      Am                     F
[Burr] Meanwhile, Madison is grappling with the fact 
     Dm                     E
that not every issue can be settled by committee
Am                     F                              Dm mute
Meanwhile, congress is fighting over where to put the capital-
                                        E
[company screams incoherently] it isn't pretty
      Am                         F
Then Jefferson approaches with a dinner and invite 
    Dm                    E
and Madison responds with Virginian insight:
          Am                 F
[Madison] Maybe we can solve one problem with another 
    Dm                    E
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!

            Am                  F
[Burr] No! —one else was in the room where it happened
Dm                          E
The room where it happened, the room where it happened
Am                     F
No one else was in the room where it happened
Dm                          E
The room where it happened, the room where it happened
       Am         F             Dm                               E
[Burr] My God! In God we trust, but we'll never really know what got discussed
Dm                           E
Click-boom then it happened, and no one else was in the room where it happened

          Am
[Company] Alexander Hamilton!

[Burr]What did they say to you to get you to sell New York City down the river?
          C
[Company] Alexander Hamilton!

[Burr] Did Washington know about the dinner? 

Was there Presidential pressure to deliver?
          Dm
[Company] Alexander Hamilton!
[No chord]
[Burr] Or did you know, even then, it doesn't matter where you put the U.S. Capital?
     E
[Ham]Cuz we'll have the banks we're in the same spot [Burr]You got more than you gave

[Ham] 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
[Everyone] What do you want, Burr? What do you want, Burr? 

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

       Am F              Dm                         E
[Burr] I wanna be in the room where it happens, the room where it happens
Am F              Dm                     E
I wanna be in the room where it happens, the room where it happens (x5, build in a crescendo)
       Am            F
[Comp]The art of the compromise— 
       Dm                 E
[Burr] Hold your nose and close your eyes
       Am                     F
[Comp] We want our leaders to save the day—
       Dm                                  E
[Burr] But we don't get a say in what they trade away
       Am            F
[Comp] We dream of a brand new start—
       Dm                  E
[Burr] But we dream in the dark for the most part
       Dm
[Burr] Dark as a tomb where it happens

I wanna be in the room where it happens
                                         
[Company, while Burr improvises overtop]    
Am    E
  The room where it happens
Am    E
  The room where it happens
Am    E
  The room where it happens
Am    E
  The room where it happens
Am    E
  The room where it happens
Am                   E
  I wanna be in the room where it happens!