Theatre
By Numbers
Wicked By Numbers: Every song in the stage musical of Wicked
Here’s your breakdown of every song on the Wicked soundtrack
The Wicked album is dense, and for those looking to get into the stage production of the musical it can feel like an intimidating place to start, especially when the Wicked fandom is so passionate. The Wicked soundtrack is one of the best in the West End or on Broadway, though, and well worth a listen. If you’re going to see Wicked in London and want to prepare, if you’ve gone already and can’t get that one tune out of your head, or if you’re just ready to join in on the Wicked mania, this is your guide to the magical musical, by numbers. (If you want to see which one we consider the best song in the show, check out our ranking of the songs in Wicked.)
Here’s a breakdown of every song in Wicked the musical.
Wicked songs:
‘No One Mourns The Wicked’
The show’s opening number fast forwards to the end of the story, after the Wicked Witch of the West has been melted by Dorothy. Glinda the Good delivers the news to the Munchkins and tells them a little bit about Elphaba’s origins – we see Elphaba’s mother meeting with her mysterious lover who gives her a strange green elixir to drink, and we also witness Elphaba’s birth. The song establishes what we already know about the Wicked Witch of the West’s story, but also gives us new information, and the disgusted reaction of Elphaba’s family to her green skin is the first indication that we might end up feeling empathy for her.
Key lyric: Isn’t it nice to know/That good will conquer evil?
‘Dear Old Shiz’
We now move backwards in time to the Shiz University, the place where Glinda and Elphaba will end up meeting. This short school song establishes the setting – and gives Glinda (known as Galinda in this portion of the story) a chance to show off.
Key lyric: “We shall still revere the lessons learned/In our days at dear old Shiz”
‘The Wizard And I’
After Elphaba accidentally demonstrates her powers on move-in day, Madame Morrible promises to write to the Wizard about her magical talent. This sets Elphaba daydreaming about what a future working by the Wizard’s side might look like, and how there may come a day when the Wizard decides to ‘de-greenify’ her. She also has a premonition of a celebration in Oz to do with her. Of course, we as the audience have already seen this celebration, and we know that it isn’t so cheerful…
Key lyric: “Unlimited/My future is unlimited/And I’ve just had a vision almost like a prophecy”
‘What Is This Feeling?’
Galinda accidentally volunteers to share a dorm room with Elphaba and the two quickly form a strong dislike for each other. They both write letters to their families attempting to express how they’re feeling, before they each find the perfect word for it: loathing. Galinda receives praise from the wider student body, who can’t understand how she’s surviving living with Elphaba. From our vantage point, however, Galinda isn’t as patient as she pretends to be.
Key lyric: “And I will be loathing/Loathing you my whole life long”
‘Something Bad’
A key plotline in Wicked is the silencing of the animals. Dr Dillamond, the talking goat who teaches Elphaba History, tells her about the rumours he’s heard that animal lecturers are being sacked in large numbers and losing the ability to speak. Elphaba is confident that if the Wizard can just be made aware of what’s happening, he’ll be able to fix it. During their conversation, however, it becomes clear that something strange is happening to Dr Dillamond’s own powers of speech…
Key lyric: “It couldn’t happen here in Oz”
‘Dancing Through Life’
There’s a lot of ground covered in this one. Ready? The handsome, carefree Fiyero has just transferred in and is ready to lead his fellow students astray. He believes that life is best when you don’t think too deeply about anything, a philosophy that appeals to Galinda. Fiyero organises a big excursion to the Ozdust Ballroom so that he and his classmates can dance the night away. Munchkin Boq is in love with Galinda and asks her to dance with him, but Galinda redirects his attention to Nessa Rose, Elphaba’s younger sister who uses a wheelchair. Keen to win Galinda’s favour, Boq asks Nessa Rose to the dance. Fiyero, impressed with Galinda’s manipulation, asks her to the dance himself.
Got all that? Nessa Rose delightedly tells Elphaba about Boq, and praises Galinda’s kindness in setting the two of them up. Meanwhile, Galinda has found an ugly pointed black hat amongst her possessions, and her friends convince her to prank Elphaba by convincing her to wear it to the dance that night. With her opinion of Galinda somewhat changed after her conversation with Nessa Rose, Elphaba accepts.
Last bit! At the Ozdust, Boq tries to confess to Nessa Rose why he really asked to the dance, but can’t bring himself to do so. The student body ends the number by dancing the night away. ‘Dancing Through Life’ is a dense number, but it sets up a lot of important character dynamics that are crucial to the rest of the show.
Key lyric: “Life’s more painless/For the brainless/Why think too hard?/When it’s so soothing”
‘Popular’
Galinda and Elphaba have now reconciled their differences, and Galinda decides that the best way to show friendship to Elphaba is to give her a makeover. ‘Popular’ sees her explaining to Elphaba what the word is really about – and why it’s so powerful. It’s a fun number, but it foreshadows a lot of what’s to come.
Key lyric: “It’s not about aptitude/It’s the way you’re viewed/So it’s very shrewd to be/Very, very popular like me!”
‘I’m Not That Girl’
After Elphaba convinces Fiyero to help her rescue and release a lion cub that’s been brought into the school in a cage, they share a brief moment. When Fiyero leaves, Elphaba reminds herself that Fiyero is with Galinda and could never love someone like her.
Key lyric: “There’s a girl I know/He loves her so/I’m not that girl”
‘One Short Day’
Elphaba is invited to go to the Emerald City to meet the Wizard and brings Galinda, who now goes by Glinda, along with her. The two explore the glitz and glamour of the city and dream about living there together some day. They watch a performance about how wonderful the Wizard is, before a voice invites them to enter and meet with him.
Key lyric: “We’re just two friends/Two good friends/Two best friends”
‘A Sentimental Man’
The Wizard tells Elphaba and Glinda that he considers the citizens of Oz to be like his children and is always trying to act in their best interest. However, this illusion is about to be shattered…
Key lyric: “Elphaba, I’d like to raise you high/Cause I think everyone deserves the chance to fly”
‘Defying Gravity’
Elphaba has realised that the Wizard is really the one behind the oppression of the animals and decides she wants nothing to do with him. After they flee, Glinda begs her to go back and apologise, but Elphaba refuses to abandon her morals. She asks Glinda to come with her, but Glinda can’t bring herself to do it. The two hope for happiness for each other, before Elphaba harnesses her powers to create her flying broomstick and soars above the guards. Act One ends with her high in the sky, defying the wizard to bring her down.
Key lyric: “And nobody in all of Oz/No Wizard that there is or was/Is ever going to bring me down”
‘Thank Goodness’
Act Two begins with Glinda once again addressing the people of Oz, only this time it’s a short time after Elphaba’s escape. Oz is fearful of Elphaba, believing her to be behind everything bad happening there. Glinda is now Glinda the Good Witch, appearing to reassure them. She announces her engagement to Fiyero, who is a lot quieter than when we last saw him, and reconciles the choices she’s made. Madame Morrible tells the citizens of Oz a different version of Elphaba’s meeting with the Wizard, in which Glinda is the hero and Elphaba the villain.
Key lyric: “No, I couldn’t be happier/Though it is, I admit/The tiniest bit/Unlike I anticipated”
‘Wonderful’
Elphaba meets with the Wizard again, who confesses that he was always just an ordinary citizen and that he got swept up in the adoration. He tells her that Oz needed something to believe in and so he may have got carried away. Elphaba is almost convinced to join him and try to repair Oz – but after the number ends, a caged Dr Dillamond changes her mind.
Key lyric: “Elphaba, the most celebrated/Are the rehabilitated”
‘I’m Not That Girl (Reprise)’
Fiyero helps Elphaba escape the Wizard and chooses to go with her, leaving a heartbroken Glinda behind. In this reprise, Glinda wonders if Fiyero really loved Elphaba all along.
Key lyric: “There’s a girl I know/He loves her so/I’m not that girl”
‘As Long As You’re Mine’
Fiyero and Elphaba escape to the forest and proclaim their love for each other. Elphaba can’t believe that Fiyero’s chosen her, and Fiyero can’t believe the change that Elphaba has worked in him.
Key lyric: “Just for this moment/As long as you’re mine/Come be how you want to/And see how bright we shine”
‘No Good Deed’
After Fiyero is captured, Elphaba presumes him dead and casts a frantic spell to save his life, attempting to make him impossible to harm or kill. Angry and heartbroken, she laments that no matter how good her intentions are, no-one will ever see it that way. Reflecting on all the people she’s lost, she wonders if any of it was worth it, and decides there’s no point trying to be good anymore.
Key lyric: “Was I really seeking good/Or just seeking attention?”
‘March Of The Witch Hunters’
A hunt for Elphaba begins, with angry villagers turning out to find and kill her. Boq leads the pack, now made of tin thanks to a botched spell by Nessa Rose that Elphaba attempted to put right. He also claims that the lion cub Elphaba saved back at Shiz has grown up to be a coward because she wouldn’t let him fight his own battles.
Key lyric: “Wickedness must be punished”
‘For Good’
An enraged Elphaba has captured Dorothy, and Glinda comes to talk her into letting the girl go. Elphaba decides to surrender and the two share a tearful goodbye, each confessing how much their life has been shaped by the other.
Key lyric: “Who can say if I’ve been changed for the better?/But, because I knew you, I have been changed for good”
‘Finale’
Elphaba has orchestrated an escape – but no one else knows it other than Fiyero, whose life she succeeded in saving. Oz celebrates, and Glinda secretly mourns.
Key lyric: “No one mourns the wicked”
