“Non-Stop”
(from “Hamilton: An American Musical” soundtrack)
After the war I went back to New York
[Hamilton:]
A-after the war I went back to New York
[Burr:]
I finished up my studies and I practiced law
[Hamilton:]
I practiced law, Burr worked next door
[Burr:]
Even though we started at the very same time
Alexander Hamilton began to climb
How to account for his rise to the top?
Maaaaan, the man is
[Burr and Ensemble:]
Non-stop
[Hamilton:]
Gentlemen of the jury, I’m curious, bear with me
Are you aware that we’re making hist’ry?
This is the first murder trial of our brand-new nation
The liberty behind deliberation
[Ensemble:]
Non-stop
[Hamilton:]
I intend to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt
With my assistant counsel
[Burr:]
Co-counsel
Hamilton, sit down
Our client Levi Weeks is innocent
Call your first witness
That’s all you had to say
[Hamilton:]
Okay
One more thing
[Burr:]
Why do you assume you’re the smartest in the room?
Why do you assume you’re the smartest in the room?
Why do you assume you’re the smartest in the room?
Soon that attitude may be your doom
[Ensemble:]
Awwww
[Burr (Ensemble):]
Why do you write like you’re running out of time? (Why do you write like you’re running out of time?)
Write day and night like you’re running out of time?
Ev’ry day you fight, like you’re running out of time (Ev’ry day you fight, like you’re running out of time)
Keep on fighting in the meantime
(Non-stop!)
[Hamilton:]
Corruption’s such an old song that we can sing along in harmony
And nowhere is it stronger than in Albany
This colony’s economy’s increasingly stalling and honestly
That’s why public service seems to be calling me ([Burr and Ensemble:] He’s just non-stop!)
I practiced the law, I practic’ly perfected it
I’ve seen injustice in the world and I’ve corrected it
Now for a strong central democracy
If not, then I’ll be Socrates
Throwing verbal rocks at these mediocrities
[Ensemble:]
Awww
[Burr:]
Hamilton, at the Constitutional Convention
[Hamilton:]
I was chosen for the Constitutional Convention
[Burr:]
There as a New York junior delegate
[Hamilton:]
Now what I’m going to say may sound indelicate
[Company:]
Awwww
[Burr (Company):]
Goes and proposes his own form of government! (What?)
His own plan for a new form of government! (What?)
[Burr:]
Talks for six hours! The convention is listless
[Ensemble man:]
Bright young man
[Another Ensemble man:]
Yo, who the f is this?
[Burr (Company):]
Why do you always say what you believe?
Why do you always say what you believe? (Why do you always say what you believe?)
Ev’ry proclamation guarantees
Free ammunition for your enemies
(Awww!)
[Burr and men (all women):]
Why do you write like it’s
Going out of style? (Going out of style, hey!)
Write day and night like it’s
Going out of style? (Going out of style, hey!)
[Burr and Company:]
Ev’ry day you fight like it’s
Going out of style
Do what you do
[Burr:]
Alexander?
[Hamilton:]
Aaron Burr, sir
[Burr:]
Well, it’s the middle of the night
[Hamilton:]
Can we confer, sir?
[Burr:]
Is this a legal matter?
[Hamilton:]
Yes, and it’s important to me
[Burr:]
What do you need?
[Hamilton:]
Burr, you’re a better lawyer than me
[Burr:]
Okay
[Hamilton:]
I know I talk too much, I’m abrasive
You’re incredible in court
You’re succinct, persuasive
My client needs a strong defense
You’re the solution
[Burr:]
Who’s your client?
[Hamilton:]
The new U.S. Constitution
[Burr:]
No
[Hamilton:]
Hear me out
[Burr:]
No way
[Hamilton:]
A series of essays, anonymously published
Defending the document to the public
[Burr:]
No one will read it
[Hamilton:]
I disagree
[Burr:]
And if it fails?
[Hamilton:]
Burr, that’s why we need it
[Burr:]
The constitution’s a mess
[Hamilton:]
So it needs amendments
[Burr:]
It’s full of contradictions
[Hamilton:]
So is independence
We have to start somewhere
[Burr:]
No, no way
[Hamilton:]
You’re making a mistake
[Burr:]
Good night
[Hamilton:]
Hey
What are you waiting for?
What do you stall for?
[Burr:]
What?
[Hamilton:]
We won the war
What was it all for?
Do you support this constitution?
[Burr:]
Of course
[Hamilton:]
Then defend it
[Burr:]
And what if you’re backing the wrong horse?
[Hamilton:]
Burr, we studied and we fought and we killed
For the notion of a nation we now get to build
For once in your life, take a stand with pride
I don’t understand how you stand to the side
[Burr (Ensemble):]
I’ll keep all my plans
Close to my chest (Wait for it, wait for it, wait…)
I’ll wait here and see
[Burr/Ensemble:]
Which way the wind will blow
I’m taking my time
Watching the afterbirth of a nation
Watching the tension grow
[Angelica:]
I am sailing off to London
I’m accompanied by someone who always pays
I have found a wealthy husband
Who will keep me in comfort for all my days
He is not a lot of fun, but there’s no one
Who can match you for turn of phrase
My Alexander
[Hamilton:]
Angelica
[Angelica:]
Don’t forget to write
[Eliza:]
Look at where you are
Look at where you started
The fact that you’re alive is a miracle
Just stay alive, that would be enough
And if your wife could share a fraction of your time
If I could grant you peace of mind
Would that be enough?
[Burr:]
Alexander joins forces with James Madison and John Jay to write a series of essays defending the new United States Constitution, entitled The Federalist Papers. The plan was to write a total of twenty-five essays, the work divided evenly among the three men. In the end, they wrote eighty-five essays, in the span of six months. John Jay got sick after writing five. James Madison wrote twenty-nine. Hamilton wrote the other fifty-one
[Burr (all women):]
How do you write like you’re
Running out of time? (Running out of time?)
Write day and night like you’re
Running out of time? (Running out of time?)
[Burr and men (all women):]
Ev’ry day you fight like you’re
Running out of time (Running out of time)
Like you’re
Running out of time (Running out of time)
Are you running out of time? (Awwww!)
[Full Company except Hamilton:]
How do you write like tomorrow won’t arrive?
How do you write like you need it to survive?
How do you write ev’ry second you’re alive?
Ev’ry second you’re alive?
Ev’ry second you’re alive?
[Washington:]
They are asking me to lead
I am doing the best I can
To get the people that I need
I’m asking you to be my right hand man
[Hamilton:]
Treasury or State?
[Washington:]
I know it’s a lot to ask
[Hamilton:]
Treasury or State?
[Washington:]
To leave behind the world you know
[Hamilton:]
Sir, do you want me to run the Treasury or State department?
[Washington:]
Treasury
[Hamilton:]
Let’s go
[Eliza:]
Alexander
[Hamilton:]
I have to leave
[Eliza:]
Alexander
[Hamilton:]
Look around, look around at how lucky we are to be alive right now
[Eliza:]
Helpless
[Hamilton:]
They are asking me to lead
[Eliza:]
Look around, isn’t this enough?
[Angelica (Eliza):]
He will never be satisfied
(What would be enough)
He will never be satisfied (To be satisfied)
Satisfied (Satisfied)
Satisfied (Satisfied)
[Washington:]
History has its eyes on you
[Together:]
[Burr:] Why do you assume you’re the smartest in the room?
Why do you assume you’re the smartest in the room?
Soon that attitude’s gonna be your doom
[Eliza:] Look around! Look around! Isn’t this enough? What would be enough?
[Wash/Mull/Laur/Laf:] History has its eyes on you
[Angelica:] He will never be satisfied, satisfied, satisfied
[All:] Non-Stop! Non-Stop! Non-Stop! Non-Stop
Why do you fight like
[Company:]
History has its eyes on you
[Hamilton (men) {Full Company}:]
I am not throwin’ away my shot! (Just you wait!)
I am not throwin’ away my shot! {Just you wait!}
I am
Alexander Hamilton! {Alexander Hamilton}
{Hamilton, just you wait!}
I am not throwin’ away my shot
