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"Non-Stop" is the 23rd song of Act One of Hamilton and the final song of Act I

After Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton finish their studies in New York, Burr and Hamilton defend Levi Weeks and Burr questions Hamilton's need to justify his intelligence. Hamilton is later invited as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention and drafts the U.S. Constitution. Knowing Aaron Burr is a strong and effective lawyer, Hamilton attempts to convince Burr to author The Federalist Papers in defense of his Constitution; though, after Burr's steadfast decline, turns instead to James Madison and John Jay to write the defense papers.

Angelica returns saying she is moving to London where she will live with her husband and urges Hamilton to write to her. Ultimately, Eliza pleads for Hamilton to stay with her but Angelica and Eliza agree that he can never be satisfied and the company erupts in chaos; Aaron Burr wonders how he is able to fight and write on knowing his enemies will use it against him.

Though Washington, John Laurens, Marquis de Lafayette, and Hercules Mulligan remind Hamilton that history has its eyes on him, he refuses to stop and continues his work.

Lyrics[]

[BURR]
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?
Man... the man is

[BURR & ENSEMBLE]
Non-stop!

[HAMILTON]
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—

[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?

[BURR]
Write day and night like you’re running out of time?

[BURR & ENSEMBLE]
Every day you fight, like you’re running out of time

[BURR]
Keep on fighting, in the meantime...

[ENSEMBLE]
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 & ENSEMBLE]
He’s just
Non-stop!

[HAMILTON]
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

[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]
Goes and proposes his own form of government

[COMPANY]
What?

[BURR]
His own plan for a new form of government!

[COMPANY]
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]
Why do you always say what you believe?

[BURR & ENSEMBLE]
Why do you always say what you believe?

[BURR]
Every proclamation guarantees free ammunition for your enemies...

[COMPANY]
Aww!


[BURR & MEN]
Why do you write like it’s
Going out of style?
Write day and night like it’s
Going out of style?



[WOMEN]
Going out of style, hey!

Going out of style, hey!


[BURR & COMPANY]
Every day you fight like it's going out of style
Do what you do

[BURR]
Alexander?

[HAMILTON]
Aaron Burr, sir

[BURR]
Why, 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]
Goodnight

[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 why you stand to the side


[BURR]
I'll keep all my plans close to my chest
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...


[ENSEMBLE]

Wait for it, wait for it, wait...

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 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 is no one
Who will 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]
(spoken)
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 25 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]
How do you write like you're running out of time?
Write day and night like you're running out of time?

[BURR & MEN]
Every day you fight like you're running out of time
Like you're running out of time, are you
Running out of time?


[ALL WOMEN]
Running out of time?

Running out of time?


Running out of time

Running out of time



[COMPANY]
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 every second you're alive
Every second you're alive, every second you're alive?

[WASHINGTON]
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

[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]
He will never be satisfied
He will never be satisfied
Satisfied
Satisfied...

He will never be satisfied
Satisfied
Satisfied

Why do you fight like


[ELIZA]
What would be enough
To be satisfied
Satisfied
Satisfied...?

Look around, look around
Is this enough, to be alive?

Why do you fight like




[ENSEMBLE]
Non-stop!
Non-stop!


[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's gonna be your doom

Why do you fight like you're running out of time?
Why do you fight like


[WASHINGTON]
History has its eyes on you
[WASHINGTON/MULLIGAN/LAURENS/LAFAYETTE]
History has its eyes on you




[ENSEMBLE]
Non-stop!
Non-stop!

[COMPANY]
History has its eyes on you?


[HAMILTON]
I am not throwing away my shot!
I am not throwing away my shot!

I am
Alexander Hamilton!



[MEN]
Just you wait!
[FULL COMPANY]
Just you wait!


Alexander Hamilton, Hamilton
Just you wait!




[HAMILTON]
And I am not throwing away my shot!

Gallery[]

Songs in Hamilton (Broadway Production)
Act One
Alexander Hamilton
Aaron Burr, Sir
My Shot
The Story of Tonight
The Schuyler Sisters
Farmer Refuted
You'll Be Back
Right Hand Man
A Winter's Ball
Helpless
Satisfied
The Story of Tonight (Reprise)
Wait For It
Stay Alive
Ten Duel Commandments
Meet Me Inside
That Would Be Enough
Guns And Ships
History Has Its Eyes On You
Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down)
What Comes Next?
Dear Theodosia
Tomorrow There'll Be More Of Us
Non-Stop
Act Two
What'd I Miss
Cabinet Battle #1
Take A Break
Say No To This
The Room Where It Happens
Schuyler Defeated
Cabinet Battle #2
Washington On Your Side
One Last Time
I Know Him
The Adams Administration
We Know
Hurricane
The Reynolds Pamphlet
Burn
Blow Us All Away
Stay Alive (Reprise)
It's Quiet Uptown
The Election of 1800
Your Obedient Servant
Best of Wives and Best of Women
The World Was Wide Enough
Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story
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