"Your Obedient Servant" is the 20th song of Act Two of Hamilton, and the 43rd song of both acts.
Furious at Hamilton for endorsing Jefferson and thus losing the presidency for himself, Burr accuses Hamilton of purposely speaking badly of him to the public to interfere with his success through a series of letters. Hamilton, in turn, retorts that Burr does not believe in any cause unless it is for personal gain, so it was only truthful of him to do so.
Enraged, Burr challenges Hamilton to a duel to settle the issue.
Lyrics[]
[BURR]
How does Hamilton
An arrogant
Immigrant, orphan
Bastard, whoreson
Somehow endorse
Thomas Jefferson, his enemy
A man he’s despised since the beginning
Just to keep me from winning?
I wanna be in the room where it happens
[BURR & COMPANY]
The room where it happens
The room where it happens
[BURR]
You’ve kept me from—
[BURR & COMPANY]
The room where it happens
[BURR]
For the last time...
Dear Alexander:
I am slow to anger
But I toe the line
As I reckon with the effects
Of your life on mine
I look back on where I failed
And in every place I checked
The only common thread has been your disrespect
Now you call me “amoral,”
A “dangerous disgrace,”
If you’ve got something to say
Name a time and place
Face to face
I have the honor to be Your Obedient Servant
A. Burr
[HAMILTON]
Mr. Vice President:
I am not the reason no one trusts you
No one knows what you believe
I will not equivocate on my opinion
I have always worn it on my sleeve
Even if I said what you think I said
You would need to cite a more specific grievance
Here’s an itemized list of thirty years of disagreements
[BURR]
Sweet Jesus...
[HAMILTON]
Hey, I have not been shy
I am just a guy in the public eye
Tryna' to do my best for our republic
I don’t wanna fight
But I won’t apologize for doing what’s right
I have the honor to be Your Obedient Servant
A. Ham
[BURR]
Careful how you proceed, good man
Intemperate indeed, good man
Answer for the accusations I lay at your feet or
Prepare to bleed, good man
[HAMILTON]
Burr, your grievance is legitimate
I stand by what I said, every bit of it
You stand only for yourself
It’s what you do
I can’t apologize because it’s true
[BURR]
Then stand, Alexander
Weehawken. Dawn
Guns. Drawn
[HAMILTON]
You’re on
[BURR & HAMILTON]
I have the honor to be Your Obedient Servant
[HAMILTON]
A. Ham
[BURR]
A. Burr