Something Bad
Wicked · Wicked (2003 Original Broadway Cast)
(spoken) Oh, Miss Elphaba - The things one hears these
days. Dreadful things:
(sung) I've heard of an Ox
A professor from Quox
No longer permitted to teach
Who has lost all powers of speech
And an Owl in Munchkin Rock
A vicar with a thriving flock
Forbidden to preach
Now he can only screech!
Only rumors - but still -
Enough to give pause
To anyone with paws
Something bad is happening in Oz
ELPHABA
Something bad? Happening in Oz?
DILLAMOND
Under the surface
Behind the scenes
Something baaaaaaad.
(spoken) Sorry, "Bad".
ELPHABA(spoken) Doctor Dillamond - If something bad is happening
to the Animals, someone's got to tell the Wizard.
That's why we have a Wizard.
(sung) So nothing bad....
DILLAMOND
(spoken) I hope you're right:
BOTH
Nothing all that bad:
DILLAMOND
Nothing truly baaaaaad:.
(spoken) Sorry, "Bad"
ELPHABA
It couldn't happen here
In Oz.
Something Bad - Wicked
Performed by the original Broadway cast of Wicked, "Something Bad" is a pivotal moment in the musical's narrative, delivered by Elphaba during her confrontation with Glinda. The song explores themes of jealousy, betrayal, and the toxic nature of their friendship, marking a turning point in Elphaba's character arc as she begins to question her role in the Wizard's court. With its dramatic orchestration and powerful vocal delivery, the track exemplifies the show's signature blend of pop-rock and theatrical storytelling. Released as part of the 2003 original cast recording, it remains a defining piece of the Wicked canon, capturing the emotional intensity of the story's early conflicts and establishing the complex dynamics between the two central characters.