The Great Almost

by Carol Keogh

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about

Here is a new version of a song that was played live just once by my former band The Plague Monkeys - at the close of our Christmas gig in Whelan's on 28th December 1999 - and was never recorded. This is a reimagining of the song, with a completely reworked arrangement by Romy and myself.

It is a Christmas song but it is in essence a song about endings. The end of a century (all of those Y2K prophets of doom). The end of a sad 'almost' love affair. And as it turned out, the end of a band. The Plague Monkeys split in early 2000, so this was in fact the last song we ever played.

It was in many ways the song of the end of an era and it feels apt to record it now at what I hope is the beginning of a new one. At the time it wasn't given a name and I've lately called it 'The Great Almost' because, well, so many great things almost were. The 'you' referred to in the middle section - the one I wanted to tell about it all - was in part the audience at that final performance and in part the almost lover.

The bidding to "be happy and be free" was also an address to both.

lyrics

THE GREAT ALMOST

One thing never discussed
How lonely is Christmas
Recalling all the losses
And calling in the days

It's not the end of the world
It's not the end of the world

And how quickly we test
This myth of forgiveness
Throwing up the garlands
That wind up in the waste

It's not the end of the world
It's not the end of the world
But it's finally over

And I don't know what anything is worth
We've hit some low and what is even worse
All I think of to do is tell you about it

So be happy and be free
Live it for you, remember me
Be happy and be free
Live it for you, remember we

Because it's finally over
But it's not the end of the world

credits

released December 22, 2014
Piano and programming, Romy
Main and backing vocals, Carol
Arrangement by Carol and Romy
Recorded and mixed by Romy

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about

Carol Keogh Ireland

THE WICC album one - WOLF will be released on 22nd March 2022.

Carol Keogh, has written and sung with a number of bands including The Plague Monkeys, The Tycho Brahe, The Natural History Museum (with Dunk Murphy) and Autamata.
Keogh's first solo release (backed by The City Fathers), "Mongrel City", was released in 2014. ... more

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