For Good by Kristen Chenoweth and Idina Menzel

Album: Wicked (Original Broadway Cast Recording) (2003)

License This Song

Songfacts®:

This is the second to last song in the musical Wicked where Glinda the Good Witch and Elphaba, who turns into the "Wicked Witch of the West," say goodbye for the last time. The idea for the song came when the composer Stephen Schwartz's daughter was saying goodbye to her friend and asked her what it would be like if she was ever going to see her friend again, and the opening lines were based on her daughter's words.
"For Good" has been sung at various memorial services. Kristin Chenoweth (the original Glinda) sang it at the memorial service of her West Wing co-star John Spencer, and the Australian Wicked cast sang it at a service for Rob Guest of the original Melbourne Wizard of Oz.
Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande performed "For Good" as Elphaba and Glinda respectively, in Wicked: For Good, the 2025 second of the two-part movie adaptation of Wicked.

Comments: 1

Hannah from Gustavus, OhThe choir at my high school sang this during my class' graduation and there was not a dry eye in the house. This is right up there with "Seasons of Love" for good choir graduation songs that aren't the same old "Pomp and Circumstance."

see more comments

More Songfacts:

Live ForeverOasis

The Oasis song "Live Forever" was written in response to "I Hate Myself And I Want To Die" by Nirvana. "Kids don't need to hear that nonsense," said Noel Gallagher.

Put Your Records OnCorinne Bailey Rae

Corinne Bailey Rae's 2006 hit "Put Your Records On" borrows the opening line ("Three little birds sat on my window") from the Bob Marley song "Three Little Birds." Both songs have the same message: Don't worry, because every little thing's going to be alright.

When I'm 64The Beatles

In The Beatles' "When I'm 64," Paul McCartney asks a woman if she'll still be there for him when he's 64. In 2006, he got his answer when shortly before his 64th birthday, he and Heather Mills separated.

Try AgainAaliyah

Until December 5, 1998, a song had to be issued as a single to make the Hot 100. Aaliyah's "Try Again" was the first tune to top the chart based on airplay alone, without any sales figures being included.

I Remember EverythingZach Bryan

Zach Bryan and Kacey Musgraves had both gone through divorces when they wrote and recorded the wrenching duet "I Remember Everything." It was the first #1 Hot 100 hit for each of them.

Bad RomanceLady Gaga

Lady Gaga is a big fan of horror movies; listen for the names of these three Alfred Hitchcock films in the lyrics to "Bad Romance": Psycho, Vertigo, Rear Window.