The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →“For Good” is Elphaba and Glinda’s farewell duet in Wicked. Its title holds two meanings at once: the friends have changed each other permanently, and that change has been for the better. Stephen Schwartz described it as a song about the characters’ feelings as they see each other for the last time.
What does “For Good” mean in Wicked?
The phrase joins two ideas: something that lasts, and something that improves a person or their life. In the song, Elphaba and Glinda recognize that their friendship has left a lasting mark on each of them, even as they part and follow different paths. The title does not suggest that their conflicts or circumstances have simply disappeared.
Schwartz has said that Wicked book writer Winnie Holzman proposed a song about how the two women had changed each other “for good.” He recognized the phrase’s potential as both the title and the song’s central idea. The musical’s official synopsis describes the pair’s progression from rivals to unlikely friends, while the official film page calls the song the emotional culmination of their friendship. Stephen Schwartz’s Wicked page and the Wicked: For Good page provide the story context.
Why is it a farewell song?
“For Good” comes at the point when Elphaba and Glinda must face the consequences of their diverging lives. In the stage musical, it belongs to the story’s second act; the film Wicked: For Good adapts that act. Elphaba has been branded the Wicked Witch of the West, while Glinda has become a public symbol of good. Their relationship is caught up in love, loss, political manipulation and events connected to The Wizard of Oz.
#1 Best Overall
- Wicked: The Soundtrack features performances by the stars of Universal Pictures' cinematic event with music and lyrics by legendary composer/lyricist Stephen Schwartz
Schwartz put the song’s purpose plainly: “The song ‘For Good’ was, of course, written for the show to try to express the leading characters’ feelings as they are seeing each other for the last time.” That final meeting gives the duet its emotional shape: it is not simply a celebration of friendship, but a recognition of what the relationship has meant as the friends prepare to separate.
What inspired Stephen Schwartz to write it?
Schwartz says he asked his daughter what she would say to a lifelong best friend if she knew they would never see each other again. He drew much of the song’s first verse from her response, explaining, “A lot of what Jessie said got transformed into the first verse of the song.” He then tried to imagine himself in Elphaba and Glinda’s hearts and minds for the rest.
Rank #2
- Wicked: For Good - The Soundtrack features performances by the stars of the electrifying conclusion to Universal Pictures' global cinematic Wicked sensation, Wicked: For Good
Who sings “For Good” in the stage musical and film?
The song is written as a duet for Elphaba and Glinda. In the film’s song sequence, Peacock lists “For Good” as the final song, performed by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. The film performance should not be treated as interchangeable with the original Broadway cast recording or other performances: each has its own performers and arrangement. Peacock also lists a sing-along version with on-screen lyrics; availability can vary by location and date. Peacock’s song-order page identifies the film performers and sequence.
How can you find the lyrics or a playable arrangement?
This article explains the song but does not reproduce its full lyrics. For a licensed, playable version, Hal Leonard’s official Wicked: For Good matching folio contains eight piano, vocal and guitar arrangements, including “For Good.” Stephen Schwartz collaborated on and approved the arrangements, according to the publisher. It is a film-matching songbook, not a complete score of the original Broadway musical. See Hal Leonard’s folio announcement for its details.
For listening, choose the version that fits what you want to hear: the original cast recording offers the stage musical’s performance, while the film version features Erivo and Grande. The official Wicked page links to the original cast album and discusses score information. The cited sources do not establish that one recording is definitively better than another.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.A musical detail from the stage version
Schwartz has discussed the closing harmony passage in response to a reader’s question. In that passage, Kristin Chenoweth takes the lower harmony, reversing the more usual arrangement in which she sang higher than Idina Menzel. Schwartz says the performers improvised the passage during rehearsal, liked the parts they found, and kept them. The detail is specific to that stage performance history; it should not be assumed to describe every later arrangement. His account appears in the official Wicked Songs: Questions and Answers.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Rank #4
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
