No Good Deed
Idina Menzel Lyrics

Fiyero!
Calling for Fiyero's attention.

Eleka nahmen nahmen ah tum ah tum eleka nahmen Eleka nahmen nahmen ah tum ah tum eleka nahmen
This is a meaningless chant that she herself cannot understand, despite repeating it multiple times.

Let his flesh not be torn Let his blood leave no stain though they beat him Let him feel no pain Let his bones never break And however they try to destroy him Let him never die Let him never die Eleka nahmen nahmen ah tum ah tum eleka nahmen Eleka nahmen nahmen ah tum ah tum eleka, eleka
This is a chant, a prayer of protection for Fiyero or someone dear to her. She wishes no physical harm on him even in the face of abuse, and a blessing for him never to die.

What good is this chanting? I don't even know what I'm reading I don't even know which trick I ought to try Fiyero, where are you? Already dead, or bleeding? One more disaster I can add to my Generous supply?
She begins to question the effectiveness of her prayers. She questions whether Fiyero has already died or whether she can even help him. She feels that she is a magnet for disaster, and her efforts might only make the situation worse.

No good deed goes unpunished No act of charity goes unresented No good deed goes unpunished That's my new creed My road of good intentions led where such roads always lead No good deed goes unpunished
She has adopted a new philosophy that doing good for others might always be met with negative consequences, and it is not worth the efforts. All her previous attempts of doing good seemingly bring no fruitful results in return.

Nessa Doctor Dillamond Fiyero, Fiyero!
She calls out to Nessa, then Doctor Dillamond and Fiyero, possibly people whom she has tried to help in the past with no positive outcome.

One question haunts and hurts Too much, too much to mention Was I really seeking good Or just seeking attention? Is that all good deeds are when looked at with an ice-cold eye? If that's all good deeds are Maybe that's the reason why
A pivotal moment where she now questions her intentions with her previous attempts to do good. She wonders if her efforts were for genuine good, or merely for her own attention-seeking. She begins to think that her past efforts may have all been insincere, leading to negative consequences.

No good deed goes unpunished All helpful urges should be circumvented No good deed goes unpunished Sure, I meant well, well, look at what well-meant did All right, enough, so be it, so be it, then Let all Oz be agreed I'm wicked through and through since I cannot succeed Fiyero, saving you I promise no good deed will I attempt to do again Ever again No good deed will I do again!
She decides that since all her attempts at doing good have brought negative consequences, she will stop trying to do them, even if it means being considered wicked. She makes a promise to Fiyero that she will never attempt to do good again, as her earlier efforts were rendered futile by negative outcomes.