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"
Crying
Damien Leith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Then I saw you last night, you held my hand so tight
When you stopped to say, "Hello"
You wished me well, you couldn't tell
That I'd been crying over you
Crying over you then you said, "So long"
Left me standing all alone
Crying, crying, crying
It's hard to understand
That the touch of your hand
Can start me crying
I thought that I was over you
But it's true, so true
I love you even more than I did before
But darling what can I do?
For you don't love me and I'll always be
Crying over you
Crying over you
Yes, now you're gone
And from this moment on
I'll be crying, crying, crying, crying,
Crying, crying, over you
The lyrics of Damien Leith's song "Crying" depict the emotional turmoil and heartbreak experienced by the singer after encountering someone from their past.
The song begins with the singer acknowledging that they were doing alright and able to smile, suggesting that they were starting to move on from the pain of a previous relationship. However, everything changes when they see this person again. The line "you held my hand so tight" implies that there is still a strong emotional connection between them.
As this person stops to say hello, the singer realizes that this encounter is difficult for them. The line "you wished me well, you couldn't tell" shows that although the other person may have meant no harm, they fail to recognize the emotional impact their presence has on the singer.
The chorus reveals the intense emotional response the singer has to this encounter. They confess that they have been crying over this person and continue to cry. The repetition of the word "crying" emphasizes the depth of their emotional pain. The singer finds it hard to understand how the touch of this person's hand can evoke such strong emotions and lead them to tears.
The second verse shows that the singer had believed they had moved on from their feelings for this person. They thought they were over them, but encountering them again rekindles their love. The line "I love you even more than I did before" represents the powerful and enduring nature of their emotions. However, they are aware that this person does not feel the same way about them. The line "But darling what can I do?" expresses their helplessness in finding a resolution to their unrequited love.
The final lines reflect the singer's realization that the person they love is gone from their life. From this moment onward, they will continue to cry and mourn the loss. The repetition of "crying" in the closing lines underlines the profound sadness they feel as they accept their ongoing emotional pain.
Line by Line Meaning
I was alright for a while, I could smile for a while
I was doing fine and able to put on a happy face, at least for a short period of time
Then I saw you last night, you held my hand so tight
But then I saw you last night and you held my hand tightly, creating a strong emotional connection
When you stopped to say, "Hello"
As you stopped and greeted me with a simple "Hello"
You wished me well, you couldn't tell
You expressed good wishes for me, not realizing the impact it had on me
That I'd been crying over you
You were unaware that I had been crying because of you
Crying over you then you said, "So long"
I was crying over you and then you abruptly said goodbye
Left me standing all alone
Leaving me standing there completely alone
Alone and crying
Feeling completely alone and still crying
It's hard to understand
It's difficult to comprehend
That the touch of your hand
How a simple touch from your hand
Can start me crying
Can trigger my tears to start flowing
I thought that I was over you
I believed that I had moved on from you
But it's true, so true
But the truth is, it's still very much true
I love you even more than I did before
I love you even more now than I did in the past
But darling what can I do?
But my love, what options do I have?
For you don't love me and I'll always be
Because you don't love me and I will forever remain
Crying over you
Continuing to cry because of you
Yes, now you're gone
Yes, now that you're no longer here
And from this moment on
And starting from this exact moment
I'll be crying, crying, crying, crying,
I will continue crying, endlessly
Crying, crying, over you
Because I'm still crying, crying over you
Lyrics © Orbi-Lee Music, Barbara Orbison Music Company, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, R-Key Darkus
Written by: Joe Melson, Roy Orbison
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
newstart18
Wow! This was really, really, really good. I read that Roy Orbison's family asked for a recording of this version after seeing it on tape. THAT should tell you how good this is.
thebraff
I still love watching this. Damien is amazing. It is fantastic to know that he has another originals album coming out in a few weeks. What a talented man he is.
Rodwin1980
His voice is just incredible! It gives me chills when he hits those high notes. Congratulations on winning Damo, I look forward to hearing your next string of hits
mmebenaut1
What an incredible voice. Your key changes are amazing. Excellent choice by the viewer.
moochyification
I voted - voted - voted for Damo all the way through IDOL and he became my IDOL and still is - what a fantastic performer you are Damien Leith :)
Elle Targaryen
Far out, this is still amazing. There's only one thing wrong with Damien's performance- it wasn't long enough!!
kimymymy on Beatlestwt
I got to watch him perform this live last night! Moved me
Wallace Brown
Well done mate, love the song and love the way you sing it.
Graham Nelson
What a great cover! Loved it.
Anneke van Wyk
What a great voice. It still gives me Goosebumps :))