For Good – English Lyrics

• By: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo
• Album: Wicked

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the profound emotional depth of "For Good," performed by Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo for the *Wicked: For Good* film. This iconic farewell duet, rich with themes of enduring friendship and transformation, allows listeners to connect with the complex, heartfelt language of musical theater, showcasing the unique vocal artistry of both stars.

[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

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

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

Because I knew you

I have been changed for good

The years go by so fast, the flames keep burning

But we know someday it could be gone

It's nice to know, then, as the torch gets passed

You will keep it blazing brightly on

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 in the wood)

Halfway through 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 (Because I knew you)

Because I knew you

I have been changed

For good

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
change /tʃeɪndʒ/ B2	noun - the act or result of becoming different verb - to make or become different
learn /lɜːn/ A2	verb - to acquire knowledge or skill through study, experience or teaching
help /hɛlp/ A1	verb - to give assistance or support to someone noun - assistance or aid
friend /frɛnd/ A1	noun - a person attached to another by affection or ties of mutual assistance
comet /ˈkɒmɪt/ B2	noun - a celestial body of ice, dust and rock with an elongated bright tail
stream /striːm/ B1	noun - a small, narrow river
wood /wʊd/ A2	noun - the material that forms the trunk and branches of trees; a forest
heart /hɑːrt/ A2	noun - the organ that pumps blood; the centre of emotion or affection
life /laɪf/ A1	noun - the condition that distinguishes animals and plants from inorganic matter, including the experience of being alive
flame /fleɪm/ B1	noun - the visible, gaseous part of a fire
torch /tɔːrtʃ/ B2	noun - a portable light, typically a flame or electric bulb, carried in the hand
bright /braɪt/ B1	adjective - giving out a lot of light; vivid or intelligent
good /ɡʊd/ A1	adjective - of high quality or moral excellence
better /ˈbɛtər/ A2	adjective - of a higher standard or quality; more desirable verb (informal) - to improve or recover; to get better
grow /ɡroʊ/ A2	verb - to increase in size, number, or importance; to develop

Key Grammar Structures

• I've heard it said

  ➔ Present Perfect Passive

  ➔ The present perfect tense ('have/has + past participle') is used to describe an action that started in the past and continues to the present, combined with the passive voice ('be + past participle') to indicate the subject is acted upon. In this case, 'it' (the belief) has been 'said' by someone.

• Bringing something we must learn

  ➔ Present participle clause modifying 'reason'

  ➔ The present participle 'bringing' functions as an adjective, describing the 'reason'. This concise phrasing adds detail to the noun it modifies.

• And we are led

  ➔ Passive voice

  ➔ The passive voice is used ('are led') to emphasize that 'we' are the recipients of the action (being led). The agent is not specified.

• But I know I'm who I am today

  ➔ Relative Clause ('who I am today')

  ➔ The relative clause 'who I am today' functions as a noun, the object of the verb 'know'. It defines the speaker's current self.

• Like a comet pulled from orbit

  ➔ Simile with prepositional phrase

  ➔ This is a simile using the word 'like' to compare two dissimilar things (a person's change and a comet). The prepositional phrase 'from orbit' provides further detail.

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

  ➔ Embedded question with present perfect passive and comparative adverb

  ➔ This is an indirect question. It employs the present perfect passive ('been changed') and the comparative adverb 'better'.

• Because I knew you

  ➔ Subordinate clause of reason

  ➔ This is a subordinate clause that explains the reason ('because') for the main clause's statement. It provides the cause-and-effect relationship.

• You'll be with me

  ➔ Future Simple (with 'will')

  ➔ This uses 'will' to express a future action or state. It's a simple, direct statement about what will happen.