Almost Doesn't Count

"Almost Doesn't Count" is a ballad written by Shelly Peiken and Guy Roche for Brandy's second studio album, Never Say Never (1998). It also was produced by Roche and released as the album's fourth single during the second quarter of 1999. The ballad reached the top 20 in New Zealand, the UK, and on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 on June 8, 1999 (after reaching the Top 40 on April 27). Brandy performed the song in the 1999 film Double Platinum, starring Diana Ross and herself. The peaked at number 16 on both the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts.

[Intro] Oh-oh, oh Yeah, yeah, yeah [Verse 1] Almost made you love me, almost made you cry Almost made you happy, babe, didn't I, didn't I? You almost had me thinkin' you were turned around But everybody knows, almost doesn't count Almost heard you sayin' you were finally free What was always missing for you, babe, you found it in me But you can't get to heaven half off the ground Everybody knows, almost doesn't count [Chorus] I can't keep on loving you one foot outside the door I hear a funny hesitation of a heart that's never really sure Can't keep on tryin' if you're looking for more Than all that I could give you, than what you came here for [Verse 2] Gonna find me somebody not afraid to let go Want a no doubt, be there kind of man - you came real close But every time you built me up, you only let me down But everybody knows (Everybody knows) Almost doesn't count (Almost doesn't count) [Break] Hey (Oh, oh), hey (Ooh-oh, oh, everybody knows) Hey (Yeah, yeah, yeah), hey I can't keep on, baby, can't keep on tryin' Everybody knows (Everybody knows) Almost doesn't count (I can't keep on) [Chorus] I can't keep on lovin' you one foot outside the door (Ooh, ooh, I hear a) I hear a funny hesitation of a heart that's never really sure (Ooh, never really sure) Can't keep on tryin' if you're looking for more (No, no) Than all that I could give you, than what you came here for (Ooh, babe) [Verse 3] Maybe you'll be sorry, and maybe you'll be cold Maybe you'll come runnin' back, babe, from the cruel, cruel world Almost convinced me you're gonna stick around But everybody knows (Everybody knows) Almost doesn't count [Outro] So maybe I'll be here, maybe I'll see you around That's the way it goes, almost doesn't count