The King of Almost

"The King of Almost" is an anthem for anyone who has ever felt like the runner-up in their own life. A collaboration of Pocket Ireland with Idirlinn, the song is rooted in acoustic pop, the song navigates the frustration of unfulfilled potential. It’s the feeling of being "The Lord of the Near," always close to success but never quite touching it.

The track begins with intimate, stripped-back instrumentation, mirroring the isolation of a "cold, lonely night." As the narrative unfolds, however, the mood shifts dramatically. The lyrics move from the despair of "drowning in silence" to a powerful reclamation of self, declaring that the "fog is lifting" and the time for hiding is over. By the final chorus, the song swells into a triumphant, full-band crescendo, transforming a confession of regret into a soaring promise of redemption. It is a reminder that even after a "thousand years" of silence, the sun can still rise.

The Visual Connection: The theme of this song is perfectly captured by my image, Wings and Walls Part II, chosen as the album artwork for this track. The dark, enclosing stone walls represent the self-imposed barriers and "shadows" described in the verses, while the bird soaring into the bright, open sky embodies the song's ultimate release - the moment we stop building walls and finally take flight.

Wings and Walls Part II