For Good – English Lyrics

• By: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande
• Album: Wicked: For Good (The Soundtrack)

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the powerful language of heartfelt farewell and lasting connection with Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande’s rendition of “For Good.” The song, with its elegant and emotional lyrics, offers a masterclass in expressing deep gratitude and reflection for a friendship that has changed you “for good.” You will learn a wealth of vocabulary for meaningful, permanent change (like 'redirection' and 'rewritten') and phrases for expressing indelible influence, making it special for anyone wanting to articulate a bond that has altered the course of their life.

[English]

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

Who can say if I've been changed

for the better?

But because I knew you

I have been changed

for good

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

Who can say if I've been changed for the better?

But because I knew you

Because I knew you...

I have been changed for good

And just to clear the air

I ask forgiveness

For the things I've done, you blame me for

But then, I guess we know

there's blame to share

And none of it seems to matter anymore

Like a comet pulled form orbit

Like a ship blown from its mooring

As is it passes the 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

Who can say

if I've been changed for the better?

I do believe I have been changed for the better

And because I knew you

Because I knew you

Because I knew you

I have been changed

For good

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
people /ˈpiːpəl/ B1	noun - human beings in general
life /laɪf/ A2	noun - the existence of a living being; the period between birth and death
reason /ˈriːzən/ B1	noun - a cause, explanation, or justification for an action or event
learn /lɜːn/ A2	verb - to acquire knowledge or skill by study, experience, or being taught
help /hɛlp/ A1	verb - to give assistance or support to someone noun - assistance or support given
grow /ɡroʊ/ A2	verb - to increase in size, amount, or degree; to develop
changed /tʃeɪndʒd/ B2	adjective - altered; made different verb - past participle of *change* – to make or become different
better /ˈbɛtər/ B1	adjective - of a higher quality or more desirable than something else
good /ɡʊd/ A1	adjective - morally right; satisfactory; of high quality
forgiveness /fɔːrˈɡɪvnəs/ B2	noun - the act of pardoning an offence or mistake
blame /bleɪm/ B1	verb - to assign responsibility for a fault or wrong noun - responsibility for an error or wrongdoing
comet /ˈkɒmɪt/ B2	noun - a celestial body of ice, dust, and rock that shows a visible coma or tail when near the sun
orbit /ˈɔːrbɪt/ B2	noun - the curved path of a celestial object or satellite around a star, planet, or other body verb - to move in a circular or elliptical path around something
ship /ʃɪp/ A2	noun - a large vessel for transporting people or goods by sea verb - to send something, especially by a vehicle or carrier
sun /sʌn/ A1	noun - the star at the centre of our solar system that provides light and heat
wind /wɪnd/ A1	noun - the natural movement of air, especially in the form of a current of air blowing from a particular direction
seed /siːd/ A2	noun - the unit of reproduction of a flowering plant, capable of developing into another plant
heart /hɑːrt/ A2	noun - the muscular organ that pumps blood through the circulatory system; also the centre of emotions

Key Grammar Structures

• I've heard it said

  ➔ Present Perfect

  ➔ The phrase "I've heard" uses the present perfect to indicate an action that occurred in the past but has relevance to the present.

• That people come into our lives for a reason

  ➔ Subordinate Clause with 'that'

  ➔ The clause "that people come into our lives for a reason" is a subordinate clause introduced by 'that', providing additional information about the main idea.

• If we let them

  ➔ Condition Clause with 'if'

  ➔ The phrase "if we let them" is a condition clause using 'if' to express a hypothetical situation.

• Who can say if I've been changed for the better?

  ➔ Indirect Question

  ➔ The sentence is an indirect question, where the interrogative structure is embedded within a statement.

• Like a comet pulled from orbit

  ➔ Simile

  ➔ The phrase uses a simile with 'like' to compare the subject to a comet pulled from its orbit.

• I do believe I have been changed for the better

  ➔ Emphatic Structure with 'do'

  ➔ The use of 'do' before 'believe' adds emphasis to the statement, making it more assertive.