Story Behind The Song
Nobody's perfect, and those who imagine they can make the world perfect are in for a lot of heartache.
Song Description
When I was an angry young man, I didn't understand my father's advice about accepting imperfections in the world. Now I get it.
| Song Length |
2:33 |
Genre |
Country - Religious, Folk - Americana |
| Tempo |
Very Slow (Under 70) |
Lead Vocal |
Male Vocal |
| Mood |
Peaceful |
Subject |
Relationship, Father |
| Similar Artists |
John Prine, John Mayer |
Language |
English |
| Era |
2000 and later |
| |
Lyrics
PERFECT ENEMY
I ain't perfect,
But that don't make me bad.
I loved my daddy,
With all the faults he had.
And he told me, "Son, remember
That you're only flesh and blood,
So don't let perfect be
The enemy of good."
But I was young and I didn't listen
To my parents, and I blamed
Them for making such an ugly world
I fought so hard to change.
And I couldn't see the beauty
Everywhere like others could,
'Cause I let perfect be
The enemy of good.
Sanctimonious perfectionist,
Yeah, that's the fool I was.
I let a good woman slip away,
She couldn't give me perfect love.
But only God is perfect,
And for puffing, strutting humans,
Good is good enough,
For me it's good enough.
So I ain't perfect,
I can't live a life that hard.
I have softer expectations,
Now I understand the way things are.
If I could do it over,
I believe next time I would
Not let perfect be
The enemy of good.
Like my daddy used to say,
I won't be the perfect enemy of good.