Miranda explained that the song's refrain appeared to him essentially in its final state while taking the subway to a friend's party.
'"[3] After contemplating his own misfortunes, and Alexander Hamilton's successes, Aaron Burr decides to hang on for now and lie in wait, knowing that his time to shine is coming soon.
Club further explains "the song finds sympathy for Burr's chronic caution; with a legacy and reputation to protect, he can't risk as much as the ambitious Hamilton, and what will become a murderous rage begins here as mournful jealousy over his rival's ability to openly work for what he wants and believes in".
The Huffington Post wrote that the song "has perhaps the most profound lyrics of the entire libretto", and praised its ability to present Burr as a tragic hero rather than a villain, noting "it complicates everything that comes after because we find ourselves rooting for him".
[12] Screen Fellows writes that the "powerful" song "make[s] a moving case for [Burr's] humanity" by portraying him as an "ultimately sympathetic character".
[16] Odom Jr. recorded an abridged version of the song for a public service announcement regarding the 2020 United States presidential election, urging people to "wait for it" as the votes were counted.