"We Know" is the 12th song of Act Two of Hamilton and is the 35th song overall.
Three political enemies of Hamilton: Burr, Jefferson, and Madison, find the transactions of Hamilton's blackmail payment to James Reynolds and think he is slandering the government's money. They privately meet with Hamilton and tell him if they cannot find means to compromise, they will expose him.
Hamilton was not using the government's funds, but was involved in an affair that could severely damage his reputation. He admits to the men that it was a scandal, not theft, and the men are shocked, but Hamilton does not know if he can trust them to tell the truth or spread to the public that he stole money, something he could not live down.
Lyrics[]
[HAMILTON]
Mr. Vice President...
Mr. Madison...
Senator Burr...
What is this?
[JEFFERSON]
We have the check stubs, from separate accounts...
[MADISON]
Almost a thousand dollars, paid in different amounts
[BURR]
To a Mr. James Reynolds way back in
Seventeen ninety-one
[HAMILTON]
Is that what you have? Are you done?
[MADISON]
You are uniquely situated by virtue of your position
[JEFFERSON]
Though 'virtue' is not a word I'd apply to this situation
[MADISON]
To seek financial gain, to stray from your sacred mission
[JEFFERSON]
An the evidence suggest you've engaged in speculation
[BURR]
An immigrant embezzling our government funds
[JEFFERSON & MADISON]
I can almost see the headline, your career is done
[BURR]
I hope you saved some money for your daughter and sons
[JEFFERSON/BURR/MADISON]
You best g'wan' run back where ya came from!
[HAMILTON]
Ha, you don't even know what you're asking me to confess
[JEFFERSON/BURR/MADISON]
Confess
[HAMILTON]
You have nothing, I don't have to tell you anything at all
Unless
[JEFFERSON/BURR/MADISON]
Unless
[HAMILTON]
If I can prove that I never broke the law
Do you promise not to tell another soul what you saw?
[BURR]
No one else was in the room where it happened
[HAMILTON]
Is that a yes?
[JEFFERSON/BURR/MADISON]
Um, yes
[BURR]
"Dear Sir, I hope this letter finds you in good health
And in a prosperous enough position to put wealth
In the pockets of people like me: down on their luck
You see, it was my wife who you decided to "
[JEFFERSON]
Whaaaat
[HAMILTON]
She courted me
Escorted me to bed and when she had me in a corner
That's when Reynolds extorted me
For a sordid fee
I paid him quarterly
I may have mortally wounded my prospects
But my papers are orderly
As you can see I kept a record of every check in my checkered
History; check it again against your list n' see consistency
I never spent a cent that wasn't mine
You sent the dogs after my scent, that's fine
Yes, I have reasons for shame
But I have not committed treason and sullied my good name
As you can see I have done nothing to provoke legal action
Are my answers to your satisfaction?
[JEFFERSON]
My God
[MADISON]
Gentlemen, let's go
[HAMILTON]
So?
[JEFFERSON & MADISON]
The people won't know what we know
[HAMILTON]
Burr!
How do I know you won't use this against me?
The next time we get toe to toe?
[BURR]
Alexander, rumors only grow
And we both know what we know