"A Step Too Far" is the eighth song from the concept album, Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida. The song is sung by Elton John, Heather Headley and Sherie Rene Scott.
It was the opening of the second act and featured the three primary characters, Aida, Radames and Amneris directly addressing the audience, commenting on their respective love triangle, usually highlighted by a neon lighted pyramid encasing the three while they were clothed in black modern formal attire. Amneris wondered why her fiancé, didn't court her in the way he was entitled, Radames realized he was caught between his engagement and loyalty to his childhood friend and his love for a Nubian slave, and Aida was torn between her love for Radames and her duty to her country and her people.
Lyrics[]
It's so strange he doesn't show me
More affection than he needs
Almost formal, too respectful
Never takes romantic leads
There are times when I imagine
I'm not always on his mind
He's not thinking what I'm thinking
Always half a step behind
Always half a step behind
Oh, oh, oh, oh
I'm in every kind of trouble
Can't you tell, just look at me
Half-ecstatic, half-dejected
All-in-all, I'm all at sea
Easy terms I thought I wanted
Fill me now with chilling dread
You could never know the chaos
Of a life turned on its head
Of a life turned on its head
Oh, oh, oh, oh
I am certain that I love him
But a love can be misplaced
Have I compromised my people
In my passion and my haste
I could be his life companion
Anywhere but where we are
Am I leader, am I traitor
Did I take a step too far
Did I take a step too far
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Did I take a step too far
Oh, oh, oh, oh
I am certain that I love him
But a love can be misplaced
Did I take a step too far
Oh, oh, oh, oh
It's so strange he doesn't show me
More affection than he needs
Did I take a step too far
Oh, oh, oh, oh
I am certain that I love him
But a love can be misplaced
Did I take a step too far
Amneris: It's so strange he doesn't show me
More affection than he needs
Almost formal too respectful
Never takes romantic leads
There are times when I imagine
I'm not always on his mind
He's not thinking what I'm thinking
Always half a step behind
Always half a step behind
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Radames: I'm in every kind of trouble
Can't you tell, just look at me
Half ecstatic, half dejected
All in all I'm all at sea
Easy terms I thought I wanted
Fill me now with chilling dread
You could never know the chaos
Of a life turned on it's head
Of a life turned on it's head
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Radames and Amneris: Oh,oh,oh,oh
Oh,oh,oh,oh
Oh,oh,oh,oh
Aida: I am certain that I love him
But a love can be misplaced
Have I compromised my people
In my passion and my haste?
I could be his life companion
Anywhere but where we are
Am I leader? Am I traitor?
Did I take a step too far?
(Amneris, Radames and Aida sing their verses at once. The last line of each verse is repeated)
Aida: Oh, oh, oh, oh
Aida & Radames: Oh, oh, oh, oh
Aida, Radames & Amneris: Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Did I take a step too far!