Early life
Leith was raised in Milltown, County Kerry, Ireland. His father travelled as part of his work as an engineer, and their family lived in countries including Libya and Botswana.
As a child he formed a family band, Leaf, with his sister Aine and brothers Paul and Darren. Leaf recorded in New York and then again later under the new name Releaf, which made an appearance in the Irish Top 100.
Since moving to Sydney, he has played in a number of high profile venues across Sydney, as the front man for the band Revelate. His first Australian performance was at The Basement in Sydney's Circular Quay.
He worked as a chemist prior to auditioning for Australian Idol.
Australian Idol
Leith was selected by the judges as one of the final 24 contestants, and was the first person voted into the competition's top twelve as the result of a viewer vote. He was praised by the show's judges for his falsetto technique, which he used regularly in performances.
Despite comments from judges Mark Holden and Kyle Sandilands in relation to Leith's unconventional appearance, and a performance of Kool and the Gang's "Celebration" which drew ridicule from Holden, the judges assessments of Leith's performances were usually positive. His renditions of Roy Orbison's "Crying", Chris Isaak's "Wicked Game", Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" and Puccini's "Nessun Dorma" each earned Leith a "touchdown" from Mark Holden, a gesture which has come to be regarded as Holden's ultimate accolade for an excellent performance. Sandilands also stated that the family of Roy Orbison had contacted the Australian Idol producers requesting a copy of Leith's performance of "Crying".
Leith was the last contestant in the 2006 season to be in the bottom three, until the top five verdict on October 30. On Sunday, November 26, during a live broadcast from the Sydney Opera House, Leith was announced the winner, over runner-up Jessica Mauboy. His debut single, "Night of My Life", was released as a paid digital download from Bigpondmusic soon after the conclusion of the grand final, with an official CD release on November 28. It has been stated that his debut album will be released in early 2007.
Australian Idol Performances
* Sydney Auditions - "The Blower's Daughter" by Damien Rice
* Theatre Round (Day Three) - "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen
* Top 24: Group 1 - "You Are So Beautiful" by Joe Cocker
* Top 12: Contestant's Choice - "With or Without You" by U2
* Top 11: Rock - "Creep" by Radiohead
* Top 10: No. 1 Hits - "If Tomorrow Never Comes" by Garth Brooks
* Top 9: Contestant's Year of Birth - "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" by Elton John
* Top 8: Disco - "Celebration" by Kool & the Gang
* Top 7: Contestant's Choice: Acoustic - "Wicked Game" by Chris Isaak
* Up Close And Personal Night - "Sky" (original) by Damien Leith
* Top 6: Rock Swings: "High & Dry" by Radiohead
* Top 5: ARIA Hall of Fame: "Message to My Girl" by Split Enz
* Top 4: Viewer's Choice: "Crying" by Roy Orbison
* Top 4: Viewer's Choice: "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen
* Top 3: Judge's Choice: "Nessun Dorma" by Giacomo Puccini
* Top 3: Judge's Choice: "Unchained Melody" by The Righteous Brothers
* Top 2: Contestant's Choice: "Never Meant to Fail" by Alex Lloyd
* Top 2: Contestant's Choice: "Waiting On an Angel" by Ben Harper
* Top 2: Grand Final Performance: "Nessun Dorma" by Giacomo Puccini
* Top 2: Winner's Single: "Night of My Life"
All I Want Is You
Damien Leith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All those dreams of riches I'd abandon on the floor
Then would you see, lying here with me
That all I want is you
Is you
If I kissed your lips and promised eternally
What place steals your heart becomes a home for me
That all I want is you
Is you
I can't keep it locked inside
These feelings I can't hide
IF I lost you then I would surely die
Now can you see, how it steals the words from me
And all I want is
All I need is
All I want is you
Is you
Is you
The lyrics of Damien Leith's song All I Want Is You articulate the depth of the singer's love and desire for the person he is with. The opening lines of the song set the stage for the message the singer is trying to convey. He tells his lover that all those dreams of material wealth that he might have had don't matter anymore, and what he wants above everything else is his beloved partner. The message is amplified when he further asserts that his partner's love and companionship are enough, and he can do without anything else as long as he has her by his side.
The promise of eternity, in the second verse, reinforces the singer's commitment to the relationship. While acknowledging that people have a special place that they call home, he assures his lover that he is willing to be wherever she is. The lyrics express that he understands the significance of the person he is with and the role she plays in his life, assuring her that with her, he has everything he needs.
The chorus gives a fitting end to the song, as the singer reiterates that he desires and needs his beloved partner. Damien Leith's soulful voice adds a touch of emotion to the beautiful lyrics, making it a beautiful love song that many can relate to.
Line by Line Meaning
If I told you that I want nothing more
If I express a desire for nothing else
All those dreams of riches I'd abandon on the floor
I would give up all my aspirations for wealth
Then would you see, lying here with me
Will you recognize it, if you are beside me
That all I want is you
That my only wish is to be with you
Is you
It's only you that I want
If I kissed your lips and promised eternally
If I shared an eternal promise with you through a kiss
What place steals your heart becomes a home for me
Wherever you feel the most affectionate for, would be my home too
The would you see, lying here with me
At that moment, will you perceive that
That all I want is you
I just want you
Is you
It's only you that I need
I can't keep it locked inside
I can't hold my feelings within myself
These feelings I can't hide
I can't conceal the way I feel
IF I lost you then I would surely die
If I lose you, I would definitely face death
Now can you see, how it steals the words from me
Do you acknowledge how it causes me to stutter
And all I want is
All I require is
All I need is
All I yearn for is
All I want is you
I aspire for nothing but you
Is you
It's only you that can fulfill me
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DAMIEN LEO LEITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@annesaree
This would have to be one of my all time favourite songs of yours, Damien!! LOVE the humour in the clip too!! THANK YOU!! :D xo
@Glawzy
I love all your originals Damien, this one no exception. Great job with the video too... An oldie but a goodie!
@dawnmac45
Am also a fan of this fabulous song and hope to hear it live again. Thank you so much Damien for posting it xxx
@thebraff
I love this song. Thanks Damien.
@lynneloganmackie
Love this song :-)
@princess1sue
I've been waiting for this one for a long time, l love this song and the video too, Very nice Damien xx Thankyou for putting it up here :)
@annymcg6917
Lol, one of my particular faves, thanks for posting Damien love it xo
@amandatiernan8315
Wow after a long while liking Damien I only stumbled on this today and I love it...
@thebraff
It is off his original album ‘Where We Land’ released after Idol
@roberthall6872
It is really I like the video it great