No Good Deed
Wicked [original broadway cast] Lyrics
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Fiyero!
Eleka nahmen nahmen
Ah tum ah tum eleka nahmen
Eleka nahmen nahmen
Ah tum ah tum eleka nahmen
Let his flesh not be torn
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
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
No good deed goes unpunished
No act of charity goes un-resented
No good deed goes unpunished
That's my new creed
I wrote of good intentions
Led where such roads always lead
No good deed goes unpunished!
Nessa
Doctor Dillamond
Fiyero
Fiyero!
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
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 can not succeed
Fiyero, saving you
I promise no good deed
Will I attempt to do again
Ever again
No good deed will I do again!
In "No Good Deed," Elphaba has just had her heartbroken by Fiyero, who she believes is dead. She begins to chant in an attempt to use her powers to prevent harm from coming to Fiyero, but questions the effectiveness of her magic. She comes to the realization that no matter how pure her intentions and how good her deeds, she will always face punishment and resentment from others. She reflects on whether her actions are truly driven by a desire to do good or if they are just a means of seeking attention. Ultimately, she decides that she is wicked through and through and that she will never attempt to do another good deed again.
The lyrics of "No Good Deed" paint a bleak picture of the world, where even the most well-intentioned actions are met with negative consequences. It is a commentary on the cynicism and skepticism that Elphaba faces from others, who are quick to judge her despite her good intentions. The song also highlights the internal struggle that Elphaba faces, questioning the validity of her own motivations and whether her actions are truly altruistic or self-serving.
Line by Line Meaning
Let his flesh not be torn
May his body remain unharmed
Let his blood leave no stain
May his blood not be shed
Though they beat him
Even if they physically harm him
Let him feel no pain
May he not suffer physically
Let his bones never break
May his body remain unbroken
And however they try
No matter how hard they attempt
To destroy him
To attempt to kill him
Let him never die
May he never be killed
What good is this chanting?
What's the point of this ritual?
I don't even know what I'm reading!
I have no idea what language or words these are
I don't even know which trick I ought to try
I'm not sure what spell to attempt
Already dead, or bleeding?
Are you already dead, or badly injured?
One more disaster I can add to my generous supply
Another catastrophe to add to my growing list
No good deed goes unpunished
Performing a good action will always have negative consequences
No act of charity goes un-resented
Assisting someone will result in anger or hostility from them
That's my new creed
That's my new guiding principle
I wrote of good intentions
I had good motives
Led where such roads always lead
Ended up in a bad situation as a result
All helpful urges should be circumvented
Any impulse to aid someone should be avoided
Sure, I meant well
I had good intentions
Well, look at what well-meant did
While I had good intentions, look at the negative outcome
All right, enough, so be it
Okay, I've had enough, that's settled
Let all Oz be agreed
Let everyone in Oz know
I'm wicked through and through
I'm evil to the core
Since I cannot succeed
As I cannot achieve my goal
Fiyero, saving you
By attempting to rescue you, Fiyero
I promise no good deed
I vow to avoid doing any good action
Will I attempt to do again
I won't try to perform any good deed again
Ever again
Never again
No good deed will I do again!
I will not perform any helpful action again
Contributed by Camden Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.