I used to worry so much about "doing songs right" that I would worry myself into forgetting passages, chords, bridges, keys, etc. I don't know how often a song would move from Group 1 (songs I have down cold) to Group 4 (songs I should never perform in public) right in the middle of a performance. It was almost enough to get me to quit playing altogether.

I finally came to a couple of realizations that helped me deal with the problem.
1. Most of the audience doesn't care if you "do it right" as long as it sounds good to them. If you're relaxed and having fun, they will be also - and the song will sound pretty good to them.

2. The people in the audience who point out your mistakes (spouses or other players, usually) won't be happy unless they find a mistake someplace. Making 'em happy every once in a while isn't such a bad thing!

3. Mistakes go by pretty quickly (although they seem to take an eternity to those who made them) and are gone before most people know it. Don't sweat the small stuff. When, however, you find yourself in the midst of a train wreck, stop the train, unload all the passengers, shrug your shoulders and get them on the next one.

4. It is sometimes better to throw in the one or two bars that you know of the song the audience has been asking for, with the disclaimer that "this is all I know of that one". At least the crowd knows you're paying attention to them. The key here is being able to judge when this is the right "sometimes". It is never time to play Free Bird.

I make up my own songbooks and use a classy looking music stand. There are simply too many great songs being written to try to remember every one of them AND lead a real life, too. I consider it respectful of the writer to at least try to get the words and parts in the right place. And when nothing else works I practice. It's a cheap trick, but so am I.

Later
Bart (who is shameless)