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"
The Long Way Back
Damien Leith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Body to body
Body to body
Body to body
Nobody does it like you do
Body to body
I love the way you make me feel
Touching me the way you do, you know, know you've got to feel it too
When you body's next to mine, you've got me hypnotized
Body to body
Body to body
You know I like the way you do what you do when you do it to me, oh
Body to body
Nobody does it like you do
Body to body
You know I like what you do when you do what you do to me, no
Oh, what you do
Flowing through this magic night
I love to feel you hold me tight
You are the one that's right for me
You got me feeling tingaly
Share the night with stars above
I think I've found this thing called love
Fever running through your eyes
You are my heavenly device
Body to body
Body to body
Body to body nobody does it like you do
Body to body
You know I like what you do when you do what you do to me, no
Oh, what you do
You opened up the world to me
You changed my life so tenderly
I know you are the only one
You're brighter than the burning sun
Don't know where you're going to
I don't care as long as I'm with you
That certain sparkle in your eyes
Has got me feeling oh so high
Body to body
Body to body
Body to body
Body to body
I like what you do when you do all those things to me
Body to body....
The Damien Leith's song, The Long Way Back, is a classic love song in which the artist sings about the joys of physical intimacy with his lover. The repetition of the phrase "body to body" in the song serves as a central theme and a symbol of the physical connection shared by the two lovers. The artist describes the unique and powerful feeling he experiences when he is near his lover and when they are "touching" each other. He further elaborates on this feeling by stating that it "hypnotizes" him.
As the song progresses, the artist expresses that he believes that his lover is the "one" for him, and he is willing to go anywhere as long as he is with her. He describes her as being "brighter than the burning sun" and acknowledges that she has opened up his world and changed his life. The final line of the song, "Body to body, I like what you do when you do all those things to me" emphasizes the pleasure that his lover gives him both physically and emotionally.
In essence, The Long Way Back is a celebration of physical intimacy and the deep emotional and spiritual connection that can result from such intimacy. The song evokes feelings of love, passion, and devotion and is, therefore, a classic love ballad.
Line by Line Meaning
Body, body, bo-bo-bo-body, body
Repeating the word body in a playful manner.
Body to body
Being physically close.
Nobody does it like you do
Unique satisfaction from the person's actions.
I love the way you make me feel
Feelings of pleasure from the person's actions.
When you do what you're doing to me, oh
Appreciating and enjoying the person's actions.
Touching me the way you do, you know, know you've got to feel it too
Suggesting that the person is also enjoying the physical closeness.
When you body's next to mine, you've got me hypnotized
Being entranced and consumed by the physical closeness.
You know I like the way you do what you do when you do it to me, oh
Expressing fondness and satisfaction for the person's actions.
You know I like what you do when you do what you do to me, no
Confirming that the person's actions bring enjoyment and satisfaction.
Flowing through this magic night
Describing the magical atmosphere of the night.
I love to feel you hold me tight
Enjoying the physical closeness and embrace.
You are the one that's right for me
Believing that the person is the ideal partner.
You got me feeling tingaly
Experiencing an enjoyable physical sensation.
Share the night with stars above
Enjoying the romantic evening under the stars.
I think I've found this thing called love
Expressing a newfound love for the person.
Fever running through your eyes
Feeling an intense passion through the person's gaze.
You are my heavenly device
Believing that the person is a divinely-inspired and perfect partner.
You opened up the world to me
Feeling enlightened and liberated by the person's presence.
You changed my life so tenderly
Appreciating the gentle and transformative impact of the person's actions.
I know you are the only one
Believing that the person is the only one for you.
You're brighter than the burning sun
Comparing the person's radiance to the sun's brightness.
Don't know where you're going to
Uncertainty about the person's future path.
I don't care as long as I'm with you
Feeling content and happy as long as the person is present.
That certain sparkle in your eyes
Noticing a particular brightness and liveliness in the person's gaze.
Has got me feeling oh so high
Experiencing elation and euphoria around the person.
Body to body....
Expanding on the theme of physical closeness and intimacy.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DAMIEN LEO LEITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind