This song highlights the process leading up to a duel. According to Hamilton (the musical), there are 9 general steps before a duel.
"The challenge, demand satisfaction/If they apologize no need for further action" - To start a duel, one needs to challenge another. If the other apologizes, then the conflict is over, but if not, then the only way to satisfy either of them is a duel.
"If they don't, grab a friend, that's your second" - Leading up to a duel, communication between the 2 duelers is typically done by their seconds, which is usually a close friend to each dueler.
"Have your seconds meet face to face/Negotiate a peace/Or negotiate a time and place" - Seconds usually try to tone down the situation and avoid a duel, because after all, no one wants to die or kill someone else. If they can't, then they would negotiate a time and place for the duel. Most of the time seconds succeed and no duel actually happens.
"If they don't reach a peace, that's alright/Time to get some pistols and a doctor on site" - Similar to the third commandment, if the seconds don't succeed then they would commence the duel. A doctor is typically on site because not all duels end in death.
"Duel before the sun is in the sky" - Duels typically take place before sunrise. This way both sides have a chance to think it over and reconsider the duel. This also makes sure that neither person has the sun shining in their eyes, making it harder to see.
"Leave a note for your next of kin/Tell 'em where you been/Pray that Hell or Heaven lets you" - At this point, a duel is almost unavoidable, so both sides would prepare by leaving notes for close relatives as there is a chance they may die.
"Confess your sins/Ready for the moment of adrenaline" - Similar to the 6th commandment, this is the point where both sides would just pray that in the case they die, they would go to heaven, hence why they are confessing their sins.
"Your last chance to negotiate/Send in your seconds/See if they can set the record straight" - This is the last chance to stop the duel through their seconds.
Before we get to the 9th commandment, Burr interrupts, wanting to stop the duel. Hamilton engages in a debate with him, and eventually Burr gives in. What's ironic is that Burr calls the duels "dumb and immature" but it was him later in the musical that challenged Hamilton to a duel (oops....small spoiler)
9. "Look him in the eye, aim no higher/Summon all the courage you require" - This is pretty self explanatory, as it describes the moment of preparation as both sides prepare to shoot.
There actually never is a 10th commandment, as the 10th one is just the count to 10 before both sides shoot.
Illustration of what a duel would look like in American history
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