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Perfect is the Enemy

by Daniel Weinstein

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about

The phrase "perfect is the enemy of good" is an aphorism commonly attributed to Voltaire in 1770, but even he was apparently quoting an Italian proverb that had been around for a while. It seemed to me to be a good idea for a song. After all, trying to make a song perfect is an effective way of never finishing one. I've got dozens of unfinished songs that might, just might, be good enough but for one reason or another I don't think they're finished.

This song started as an exercise. I wanted to see if I could write a song based on a popular phrase that held up as a song. I don't know how well I've succeeded - that's always for others to decide - but I decided to declare it finished. But it's not really - there are parts of it that never felt quite right. After recording the vocals I changed some of the lyrics. I might end up changing a few others, and maybe one day I'll re-record this song with the new lyrics. Will that make the song better? Who knows.

lyrics

Perfect is the Enemy of Good

Verse 1:
There was that short descriptions on page 195
It wasn’t really what I had intended to describe
And after many hours of working on the text
I gave up and decided that it was hopeless to expect
That I’d ever have the talent to do better than ok
I tossed that novel in the bin, there’s nothing more to say
It will forever go unread, I did the best I could
Perfect is the enemy of good

Chorus:
Perfect is the enemy
Perfect is the enemy
Perfect is the enemy of good
If I could make it better don’t you think I would
If I say it’s not good enough, I hope it's understood
Perfect is the enemy of good

Verse 2:
Our partnership was based on love and trust and fun
But I was undecided, would she ever be the one
Was she what I wanted, was she a perfect fit
A goddess with golden hair and unrivalled wit
A libertine, a temptress, that lovely girl next door
I let her go, so I'd be free for whatever was in store
Learned a lot about loneliness, more than I really should
Perfect is the enemy of good

Bridge:
Nothing’s ever finished
Nothing’s ever done
Always trying, waiting
While the race is being run
Perfect is my enemy
It keeps me playing small
For all that I’ve attempted
There’s not much to show at all

Verse 3:
The novel I was writing spoke of sadness and regret
For a love I’d lost so long ago that I still can’t forget
With this song I’m hoping for some closure on my past
I’m trying hard - I hope I can redeem myself at last
You’ll probably never hear this song - it won’t pass the test
That just allows perfection - I give up on all the rest
But who knows maybe this time I’ll cut myself a break
And sing this song with all it’s flaws - it’s a chance that I should take
Not perfect but maybe the very best I could
Perfect is the enemy of good

Chorus:
Perfect is the enemy
Perfect is the enemy
Perfect is the enemy of good
If I could make it better don’t you think I would
If I say it’s not good enough, I hope it's understood
Perfect is the enemy of good
Perfect is the enemy of good

credits


Words, music and production by Daniel Weinstein

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Daniel Weinstein Mitchells Island, Australia

I started writing songs in my late 60s and have written quite a few. During lockdown in 2020 I happened upon a beat up old blue journal that I recognised from my travels in the early 70s. In it I discovered, much to my surprise, 7 completed songs and at least a dozen songs in progress that I'd completely forgotten. Now I can confidently say I've been a songwriter for over 50 years. ... more

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