One Jump Ahead

"**One Jump Ahead**" is a song sung by the film's main protagonist Aladdin (singing voice of Brad Kane) in the movies of the same name. The music and lyrics were written by Alan Menken and Tim Rice.

## Summary

It is sung as Aladdin and Abu escape Razoul and his guards after stealing a loaf of bread.

A few minutes later, the song is reprized in a softer, more dramatic tone as Aladdin contemplates his life and desires for more.

The melody is a recurring theme throughout the film's score, often used as a musical representation of Aladdin himself.

## Trivia

* The verse two of the song *One Jump Ahead*, the song Singin' in the Rain starts from Aladdin whistling.
* The song is similar to "Belle" in the sense that they both introduce the main character who isn't happy with their lives and are taunted by the crowd. Also, both are reprised by the protagonists later on.
* The scene which Aladdin steals a loaf of bread is also a reference to Jean Valjean from *Les Misérables*, since:
	+ Both are criminals who steal a loaf of bread for survival.
	+ Both are hunted by the law. (Sultan's guards for Aladdin, Javert for Jean)
	+ Incidentally, Lea Salonga, the singing voice of Princess Jasmine, played the roles of Éponine Thénardier and Fantine in the musical *Les Misérables*.
* Since Abu does not appear in the musical version, the lines "You're my only friend, Abu/Who?" are replaced with "I could use a friend or two/True". The 2019 remake has similar lines ("Could really use a friend or two/Huh?"), but unlike the musical version, Abu appears, although not with Aladdin at that point.
	+ The 2019 version also replaces "Just a little snack, guys/Rip him open! Take it back, guys!" with "Try a different tact, guys/Rip him open 'round the back, guys!" as he wasn't seen holding a loaf of bread, as well as Aladdin saying "Take that!" instead of the guards

## Errors

* The part of Aladdin saying with outrage, he says his usual "Try a different tact, guys" and "You're my only friend, Abu" instead of the proper deactivation "*Just a little snack guys*" and "*I could use a friend or two*".

## Lyrics

* Original Broadway Version
* 2022 Broadway Version

[ALADDIN]
Gotta keep
One jump ahead of the breadline
One swing ahead of the sword
I steal only what I can't afford
And that's everything

One jump ahead of the lawmen
That's all and that's no joke
These guys don't appreciate I'm broke

[GUARDS]
Riffraff
Street rat
Scoundrel
Take that!

[ALADDIN]
Just a little snack, guys

[GUARDS]
Rip him open, take it back, guys

[ALADDIN]
I can take a hint, gotta face the facts
I could use a friend or two

[ALL]
True

[LADIES]
Oh, it's sad, Aladdin's hit the bottom
He's become a one man rise in crime
I'd blame parents, except he hasn't got 'em

[ALADDIN]
Gotta eat to live, gotta steal to eat
Tell you all about it when I got the time

One jump ahead of the slowpokes
One skip ahead of my doom
Next time gonna use a nom de plume

One jump ahead of the hitmen
One hit ahead of the flock
I think I'll take a stroll around the block

[TRADERS]
Stop, thief
Vandal
Outrage
Scandal

[ALADDIN]
Let's not be too hasty

[WOMAN]
Still I think he's rather tasty

[ALADDIN]
Gotta eat to live, gotta steal to eat
Otherwise we'd get along

[ALL]
Wrong

[ALADDIN]
One jump ahead of the hoofbeats

[GUARDS]
Vandal

[ALADDIN]
One hop ahead of the hump

[GUARDS]
Street rat

[ALADDIN]
One trick ahead of disaster

[GUARDS]
Scoundrel

[ALADDIN]
They're quick, but I'm much faster

[GUARDS]
Take that

[ALADDIN]
Here goes, better throw my hand in
Wish me happy landin' all I gotta do is jump

[GUARDS]
Don't let him get away

[ALADDIN] (spoken):
Sometimes it's just way too easy

**Aladdin:** Gotta keep
One jump ahead of the breadline
One swing ahead of the sword
I steal only what I can't afford

**Guards:** And that's everything!

**Aladdin:** One jump ahead of the lawmen
That's all and that's no joke
These guys don't appreciate I'm broke

**Guards:** Riffraff
Street rat
Scoundrel
Take that!

**Aladdin:** Try a different tact, guys

**Guards:** Rip him open, 'round the back, guys!

**Aladdin:** I can take a hint, gotta face the facts
You're my only friend, Abu!

**Harem Girls:** That!?
Why, it's sad, Aladdin's hit the bottom
He's become a one man rise in crime
I'd blame parents, because he haven't got 'em

**Aladdin:** Gotta eat to live, gotta steal to eat
Tell you all about it when I got the time

One jump ahead of the slowpokes
One skip ahead of my doom
Next time gonna use a nom de plume

One jump ahead of the hitmen
One hit ahead of the flock
I think I'll take a stroll around the block

*(whistling a cue; "Singin' in the Rain")*

**Vendor:** Stop, thief
Vandal

**Aladdin:** Abu!

**Customer:** Scandal

**Aladdin:** Let's not be too hasty

**Lady:** Still I think he's rather tasty

*("One Jump Ahead")*

**Aladdin:** Gotta eat to live, gotta steal to eat
Otherwise we'd get along

**Guards:** Wrong!

**Lady:** You better run!

(instrumental interlude)

**Aladdin:** One jump ahead of the hoofbeats

(**Guards:** Riffraff)

**Aladdin:** One hop ahead of the hump

(**Guards:** Street rat)

**Aladdin:** One trick ahead of disaster

(**Guards:** Scoundrel)

**Aladdin:** They're quick, but I'm much faster

(**Guards:** Take that)

**Aladdin:** Here goes-

Better throw my hand in
Wish me happy landin' all I gotta do is jump!

**Guards:** Don't let him get away

**Aladdin:** Sometimes it's just way too easy!
## Info

* **SONG** - One Jump Ahead
* **LENGTH** - 2:35
* **CHARACTERS** - Aladdin, Abu, Guards, Harem Girls and Jasmine