Lyrics of 'Non-Stop' by Hamilton: An American Musical

After the war I went back to New York

A-After the war I went back to New York

I finished up my studies and I practiced law

I practiced law, Burr worked next door

Even though we started
At the very same time
Alexander Hamilton began to climb
How to account for his rise to the top?
Man, the man is non-stop!

Gentlemen of the jury, I'm curious, bear with me
Are you aware that we're making history?
This is the first murder trial
Of our brand-new nation
The liberty behind deliberation (non-stop!)
I intend to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt
With my assistant counsel

Co-counsel
Hamilton, sit down
Our client Levi Weeks is innocent
Call your first witness
That's all you had to say!

Okay!
One more thing

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!
Why do you write like you're running out of time?
Write day and night like you're running out of time?
Every day you fight, like you're running out of time
Keep on fighting in the meantime

Non-Stop!

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

He's just
Non-stop!

I practiced the law, I practically 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

Hamilton, at the Constitutional Convention

I was chosen for the Constitutional Convention!

There as a New York junior delegate

Now, what I'm going to say may sound indelicate

Goes and proposes his own form of government!

What?

His own plan for a new form of government!

What?

Talks for six hours!
The convention is listless!

Bright young man

Yo, who the F is this?

Why do you always say what you believe?
Why do you always say what you believe?
Every proclamation guarantees free ammunition
For your enemies!

Why do you write like it's going out of style?
Write day and night like it's going out of style?
Every day, you fight like it's going out of style
Do what you do

Alexander?

Aaron Burr, sir

It's the middle of the night

Can we confer, sir?

Is this a legal matter?

Yes, and it's important to me

What do you need?

Burr, you're a better lawyer than me

Okay

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

Who's your client?

The new U.S. Constitution?

No

Hear me out

No way!

A series of essays, anonymously published
Defending the document to the public

No one'll read it

I disagree

And if it fails?

Burr, that's why we need it

The constitution's a mess!

So, it needs amendments

It's full of contradictions

So, is independence
We have to start somewhere

No, no way

You're making a mistake

Good night

Hey
What are you waiting for?
What do you stall for?

What?

We won the war
What was it all for?
Do you support this constitution?

Of course

Then defend it

And what if you're backing the wrong horse?

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

I'll keep all my plans
Close to my chest

Wait for it, wait for it, wait

I'll wait here and see
Which way the wind will blow
I'm taking my time
Watching the afterbirth of a nation
Watching the tension grow

I am sailing off to London
I am 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

Angelica

Don't forget to write

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?

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!

How do you write like you're running out of time?
Write day and night, like you're running out of time?

Every day, you fight like you're running out of time
Like you're running out of time
Are you running out of time?

How do you write like tomorrow won't arrive?
How do you write like you need it to survive?
How do you write every second you're alive?
Every second you're alive?
Every second you're alive?

They are asking me to lead
I'm doing the best I can
To get the people that I need
I'm asking you to be my right-hand man

Treasury or State?

I know it's a lot to ask

Treasury or State?

To leave behind the world you know

Sir, do you want me to run
The Treasury or State department?

Treasury

Let's go

Alexander

I have to leave

Alexander

Look around, look around
At how lucky we are to be alive right now

Helpless

They are asking me to lead

Look around, isn't this enough?
(What would be enough?)

He will never be satisfied
He will never be satisfied

Look around, look around

He will never be satisfied

History has its eyes on you

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's gonna be your doom!
Why do you fight like you're running out of time?

Non-stop!

History has its eyes on you!

Just you wait!

I am not throwin' away my shot!
I am not throwin' away my shot!
I am Alexander Hamilton!

Just you wait!
Alexander Hamilton
Hamilton, just you wait!

I am not throwing away my shot!