Barely Good Enough

[Verse 1]
You said, "baby, don’t you worry"
but you don’t meet my eyes
Forks scrape on chipped-up dishes
both of us memorizing lies
I keep checking every corner
for the ghost of who we were
You pour coffee, change the subject
I ask if this is what I deserve
[Chorus]
I’m always almost, never enough
too soft, too loud, too tender, too tough
I bend till I’m breaking just to measure up
and you still say you’re lonely, still say it’s rough
Guess I’m just barely, barely good enough
for the ones I love
[Verse 2]
Mama’s voice on Sunday
says, "you doing alright?"
I say I’m fine, then change it
to "I’m trying" mid-sigh
She says I got my father’s worry
and my granddad’s heavy hands
All these people that I’d die for
I can’t live up to what they plan
[Chorus]
I’m always almost, never enough
too meek, too proud, too tender, too tough
I bend till I’m breaking just to measure up
and you still say you’re lonely, still say it’s rough
Guess I’m just barely, barely good enough
for the ones I love
[Bridge]
I stand in the mirror asking
"who taught you this math of worth?"
Adding up every flaw and fracture
subtracting all the grace you’ve earned
Maybe loving me is harder
than the stories in their heads
But I’m here, heart on the table
bleeding truth in every breath I’ve bled (oh)
[Chorus]
I’m always almost, never enough
too much, too little, too easy to trust
I bend till I’m breaking just to measure up
and you still say you’re lonely, still say it’s rough
But I’m done being barely, barely good enough
for the ones I love
[Outro]
So I pour out that cold coffee
and I put on my old boots
If I ain’t your idea of worthy
I’ll go find someone who calls this
more than enough

country, Laid-back country blues with female vocals, brushed snare and woody upright bass, lazy slide guitar answering vocal lines. Verses stay intimate and near-whispered, chorus swells with stacked harmonies and organ pad. Subtle tremolo guitar and room reverb for a warm, late-night bar feel; final chorus adds a half-step lift in the backing to raise the emotional stakes., country blues