The World Was Wide Enough

One-two-three-four-five-six-seven-eight-nine

There are ten things you need to know (number one!)

We rowed across the Hudson at dawn

My friend, William P. Van Ness signed on as my (number two!)

Hamilton arrived with his crew

Nathaniel Pendleton and a doctor that he knew (number three!)

I watched Hamilton examine the terrain

I wish I could tell you what was happening in his brain

This man has poisoned my political pursuits!

Most disputes die and no one shoots (number four!)

Hamilton drew first position

Looking, to the world, like a man on a mission

This is a soldier with a marksman's ability

The doctor turned around so he could have deniability (five!)

Now I didn't know this at the time

But we were near the same spot my (your) son died, is that why? (six!)

He examined his gun with such rigor?

I watched as he methodically fiddled with the trigger

(Seven!) Confession time? here's what I got

My fellow soldiers'll tell you I'm a terrible shot (number eight!)

Your last chance to negotiate

Send in your seconds, see if they can set the record straight

They won't teach you this in your classes

But look it up, Hamilton was wearing his glasses

Why? If not to take deadly aim?

It's him or me, the world will never be the same

I had only one thought before the slaughter

This man will not make an orphan of my daughter (number nine!)

Look him in the eye, aim no higher

Summon all the courage you require

Then count (one-two-three-four-five-six-seven-eight-nine, number-ten paces, fire!)

I imagine death so much it feels more like a memory

Is this where it gets me, on my feet, sev'ral feet ahead of me?

I see it coming, do I run or fire my gun or let it be?

There is no beat, no melody

Burr, my first friend, my enemy

Maybe the last face I ever see

If I throw away my shot, is this how you'll remember me?

What if this bullet is my legacy?

Legacy, what is a legacy?