For Good

Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth in original "For Good"

For Good is a musical number from the hit musical Wicked: The Untold Story of the Witches of Oz. It is sung as a duet between Elphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West) and Glinda, as a farewell to each other.

Kristin Chenoweth (the original Broadway Glinda) sang a solo version of the piece at the private funeral for her West Wing co-star John Spencer.

The song's lyrics and music were written by composer Stephen Schwartz.

LeAnn Rimes & Delta Goodrem covered the song for the 5th anniversary soundtrack of the show, and is also covered by Lea Michele and Chris Colfer of Glee for the show's season two finale.

The song in the film will be performed by British actress Cynthia Erivo and American singer and actress Ariana Grande in Wicked: For Good.

In Wicked Die Hexen Von Oz, For Good is translated to Wie Ich Bin, which, when translated again, reads As I Am. It is also know as Anata O Wasurenai in Wicked in Tokyo, translated, it reads: Not Forget You. The spanish version of the song is titled Por Ti, which translates to Because of You, in the mexican production of the show, Wicked Mexico.

Context[]

The song is performed towards the end of the musical. In it, the two are singing farewell to one another. Just prior to the song, Elphaba gives Glinda the Grimmerie and tells her that it is up to her to continue Elphaba's cause. In the Finnish production, Elphaba and Glinda share a kiss (this has only been confirmed from the final Finish performance). After this song, Elphaba leaves and is supposedly melted by Dorothy (it later turns out that this was an elaborate set-up to fool the citizens of Oz into thinking she was dead so they would stop hunting her). In the end, she and Fiyero (having been transformed into the Scarecrow by one of Elphaba's spells gone awry) run away together.

It is the climax, and one of the most well-known songs of the show. It is reprised as part of the show's finale. It is considered the most emotionally moving song of the musical.

Musical Lyrics[]

Elphaba:
I'm limited
(spoken) Just look at me
(sung) I'm limited
And just look at you
You can do all I couldn't do
Glinda
So now it's up to you
(spoken) For both of us
(sung) Now it's up to you

Glinda:
I've heard it said
That people come into our lives
For a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you

Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood
Who can say
If I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
I have been changed
For good

Elphaba:
It well may be
That we will never meet again
In this lifetime
So let me say before we part
So much of me
Is made of what I learned from you
You'll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend

Like a ship blown from its mooring
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a skybird
In a distant wood
Who can say
If I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you

Glinda:
Because I knew you

Both:
I have been changed
For good

Elphaba:
And just to clear the air
I ask forgiveness
For the things I've done
You blame me for

Glinda:
But then, I guess
We know there's blame to share

Both:
And none of it seems to matter
Anymore

Glinda (Elphaba):
Like a comet pulled from orbit (Like a ship blown from its mooring)
As it passes a sun (By a wind off the sea)
Like a stream that meets a boulder (Like a seed dropped by a bird)
Halfway through the wood (In the wood)

Both:
Who can say
If I've been changed for the better?
I do believe I have been changed for the better

Glinda:
And because I knew you

Elphaba:
Because I knew you

Both:
Because I knew you
I have been changed
For good

Wicked: For Good Lyrics[]

Elphaba:
I'm limited
Just look at me
Not with your eyes, but theirs
I'm limited
And just look at you
You can do all I couldn't do, Glinda
Here, take it

Glinda:
What? But you know, I, I can't read this, I...

Elphaba:
Well, you have to learn
Because now it's up to you
For both of us
Now it's up to you

Glinda:
I've heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you

Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood
Who can say
If I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
I have been changed
For good

Elphaba:
It well may be
That we will never meet again
In this lifetime
So let me say before we part
So much of me
Is made of what I learned from you
You'll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend

Like a ship blown from its mooring
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a skybird
In a distant wood
Who can say
If I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you

Elphaba:
Because I knew you

Glinda:
Because I knew you

Both:
I have been changed
For good

Elphaba:
And just to clear the air
I ask forgiveness
For the things I've done
You blame me for

Glinda:
But then, I guess
We know there's blame to share

Both:
And none of it seems to matter
Anymore

Glinda (Elphaba):
Like a comet pulled from orbit (Like a ship blown from its mooring)
As it passes a sun (By a wind off the sea)
Like a stream that meets a boulder (Like a seed dropped by a bird)
Halfway through the wood (In the wood)

Both:
Who can say
If I've been changed for the better?
I do believe I have been changed for the better

Glinda:
And because I knew you

Elphaba:
Because I knew you

Both:
Because I knew you
I have been changed
For good