One Jump Ahead

"One Jump Ahead" is a song sung by Aladdin (singing voice of Brad Kane) in the animated movie of the same name. The music and lyrics were written by Alan Menken and Tim Rice.

Plot
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.

Lyrics
Original 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 You're my only friend, Abu!

Harem Girls: Who? Oh, it's sad, Aladdin's hit the bottom He's become a one-man rise in crime Massage Parlor Manager: 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

Jewelry Vendor: Stop, thief! Vandal! Outrage! (Aladdin says "Abu!" in the film) Jewelry Customer: Scandal!

Aladdin: Let's not be too hasty Lady: Still I think he's rather tasty! Aladdin: Gotta eat to live, Gotta steal to eat Otherwise, we'd get along Guards: Wrong!

Aladdin: One jump ahead of the hoofbeats (Guards: Stop, thief!) 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! Aladdin: Riff-raff, street rat I don't buy that If only they'd look closer
 * -|Reprise=

Would they see a poor boy? No, siree They'd find out There's so much more to me

Trivia

 * 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.
 * 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".