No Good Deed Lyrics – Wicked

Song Overview

Song Credits

• Artist: Idina Menzel
• Producer: Stephen Schwartz
• Composer: Stephen Schwartz
• Release Date: December 16, 2003
• Album: Wicked (15th Anniversary Special Edition)
• Genre: Broadway, Musical Theatre
• Language: English
• Track Number: 16
• Orchestration: William David Brohn
• Conductor: Stephen Oremus
• Instruments: Strings, Woodwinds, Brass, Percussion, Piano, Synthesizers, Harp
• Label: Decca Broadway
• Copyrights © 2003 Universal Music

Song Meaning and Annotations

In “No Good Deed,” Idina Menzel, as Elphaba from Wicked, tears through a thunderstorm of morality, anguish, and inner rebellion. She isn't just casting a spell; she’s clawing through emotional rubble. This piece lands smack in the third act’s turning point — the emotional collapse that slams Elphaba into the role everyone already projected onto her: the Wicked Witch.

The opening “scream”

Right out of the gate, Elphaba doesn’t just yell—she sings “Fiyero!” on a high, dissonant minor?second above the key centre. It *sounds* raw and desperate, almost a scream—but it’s precise and controlled, a musical wail rather than a wild shout.

The chant and the spell

When she bursts into the chant “Eleka nahmen nahmen, ah tum ah tum…”, she’s diving into the Grimmerie—the forbidden spell book. Few in Oz can make sense of it. We don’t catch the literal meaning at first, but then we seem to *hear* the prayer?like translation:

“Let his flesh not be torn… Let him never die.”

Spell gone wrong

We know from the original *Wizard of Oz* metaphor that saving him goes sideways—he becomes the Scarecrow. Elphaba’s attempt to avert suffering ironically creates one of Dorothy’s iconic companions. And Boq becomes Tinman, the Lion owes his life to them—they were all “made” by her desperate gestures. Yet in this moment, Elphaba is convinced she failed—*another* disaster added to her tragic list.

Deleted “Unlimited” verse

There used to be a fierce verse—

Unlimited, the damage is Unlimited to everyone I’ve tried to help…

—where she vents that every good thing she’s tried has exploded in chaos. It’s practically a confessional: “When I tried making good, all I made was a mess.” The verse got cut, but the sentiment stayed, bubbling under the surface.

Abandoning good intentions

That’s when she lands on the refrain: No good deed goes unpunished. It’s her bitter slogan now, born of heartbreak and betrayal. She’s staring at her reflection in the Wizard’s propaganda—vilified, burned in public, crushed by grief (Nessa crushed under Dorothy’s house; Dr. Dillamond silenced by the state). All because she *tried* to help.

The real question

Between the lists of losses—

Nessa… Doctor Dillamond… Fiyero…

The turn into wicked

At that breaking point, she snaps: no more trying. Her voice curls into a snarl as she vows she’ll never attempt another good deed. It isn’t just surrender—it’s a refusal to apologize, even to herself. No more masks. She’s done being the good witch—they called her wicked, so she’ll be wicked.

Backdrop of a harsher Oz

In this version of Oz (thanks to Maguire/Schwartz), good intentions get stomped on by a cruel political environment. It’s a harsh, real world—unlike Baum’s pastel fantasy. Elphaba isn’t a villain by nature, but the world made her one.

This isn’t just a musical-theatre breakdown, it’s a mini?dramatic arc: from hope to horror, from effort to exhaustion, from belief to betrayal. Every choice she made for the “good” has come back to haunt her. And in the end, she decides: fine, let them call me wicked—that’s the only card left in her hand.

That’s the heart of “No Good Deed.” It’s rage, heartbreak, self?doubt, and defiance rolled into one blistering aria. And it *lands* because we feel every cracked note in her voice is the last straw.

Incantation and Desperation

It all starts with eerie chanting:

Eleka nahmen nahmen, ah tum ah tum, eleka nahmen

This isn’t just magical gibberish. It’s a sonic symbol of desperation — the language of someone grasping at straws, invoking forces barely understood. She’s trying to save Fiyero, her love, from a brutal fate:

Let his flesh not be torn, let his blood leave no stain

But the magic, however intense, is futile. It's a witch’s Hail Mary that vanishes in smoke. And in that failure, Elphaba’s entire belief system shatters.

“No good deed goes unpunished” — A Cynic's Requiem

The mantra of the song —

No good deed goes unpunished

— is more than a lament. It’s a philosophical gut punch. The phrase takes a worn-out idiom and injects it with bitter life. Elphaba isn’t just reacting to Fiyero’s fate; she’s questioning her entire life’s arc. Every attempt to do right — whether for Nessa, Dr. Dillamond, or Fiyero — has led to ruin. It’s the classic martyr's syndrome, but delivered with Broadway bite.

Turning Point: The Birth of the “Wicked Witch”

Let all Oz be agreed I'm Wicked through and through

This is it — her villain origin speech. But it's also a dark feminist roar. Elphaba stops trying to fix, to help, to save. She embraces the caricature everyone painted of her. If Oz needs a villain, she’ll give them one. In one final, spine-tingling cry:

No good deed will I do again

— she seals her fate. Not with a bang, but with an operatic whisper of resignation.

Similar Songs

1. “Defying Gravity” by Idina Menzel
   Perhaps the most famous number from *Wicked*, this track is Elphaba’s first moment of defiance. While “No Good Deed” signals her collapse, “Defying Gravity” shows her rise. Both share orchestral power, emotional bravado, and declarations of self-ownership, though from vastly different emotional poles.
2. “Les Misérables – I Dreamed a Dream” by Patti LuPone / Anne Hathaway
   This sorrowful solo channels the same emotional unraveling. Like Elphaba, Fantine questions her efforts and dreams, only to find herself crushed by the world. It’s the same crushing descent, draped in operatic grief.
3. “Rose’s Turn” from *Gypsy* – Ethel Merman / Patti LuPone
   This showbiz meltdown mirrors Elphaba’s transformation. Both are women pushed to the edge, questioning whether they ever acted out of love or ambition. Bitter revelations — and searing solo performances — connect them like theatrical twins separated at birth.

Questions and Answers

What is the emotional tone of “No Good Deed”?

It shifts from desperate and pleading to bitterly resolute. It's an aria of emotional freefall — one moment Elphaba's casting a lifesaving spell, the next she's exiling herself from morality.

Why is this song pivotal in Wicked?

It marks Elphaba’s transformation from misunderstood rebel to full-blown “Wicked Witch.” It's her point of no return — musically, narratively, and emotionally.

What does “No good deed goes unpunished” mean in this context?

It reflects Elphaba’s realization that her altruism has only led to suffering — both for her and those she tried to help. It's cynicism crystallized into song.

Is this song difficult to perform?

Extremely. It requires dramatic vocal range, dynamic shifts, and the power to soar above a dense orchestration. It’s a test of both technique and stamina.

Does Elphaba truly become evil after this?

Not in intent, but in perception. She leans into her label — “Wicked” — as armor. The real tragedy is that her morality remains intact, but no one can see it.

Fan and Media Reactions

"I get chills every time she yells 'Fiyero!' – It’s like you can feel her soul cracking." – YouTube user: theatreobsessed87

"This isn’t just singing. It’s full-on spellcasting." – YouTube user: VocalCoachHeather

"The moment she says 'Alright, enough...' it’s game over. Instant goosebumps." – YouTube user: Wicked4Life

"One of the rawest performances I’ve ever seen on a stage. The silence after the final note says it all." – YouTube user: GreenGirlMagic

"Stephen Schwartz outdid himself. That orchestration is a living, breathing monster." – YouTube user: BroadwayNerd42