It was during this period that he became acquainted with his future partner Mark Avsec, a musician then playing keyboards for Wild Cherry. Unfortunately, Wild Cherry ended up being regarded as another one-hit-wonder, and Iris was out of a job by 1980. But Iris and Avsec, and their new band, titled "The Cruisers", returned to the charts several times in the 80s. Iris particularly scored hits with the songs "Ah, Leah!" (a track from 'Back to the Streets' that reached #29 on the Billboard Hot 100), "Love is Like a Rock" (reaching #37 on that Billboard chart), and "My Girl" (reaching #25 on that Billboard chart). "Ah, Leah!" has became known as Iris' 'signature song' and has been included in many multi-artist compilation albums.
According to reporting by D. X. Ferris in the Cleveland Scene, "Ah, Leah!" was the topic of an (apparently frivolous) lawsuit claiming that certain lyrics were stolen from a demo provided by an amateur songwriter. Iris and producer Mark Avsec prevailed, but incurred significant legal fees.
Born in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, Iris first began singing at weddings at age five, and, by age eight, he was performing on local television and entering talent contests. When his voice changed, he took up the drums but later got back into singing while in high school. A self-taught guitarist, he formed "Donnie & the Donnells" while in college.
Aside from his initial hits, with "Ah, Leah!" particularly getting big attention nationwide as an 80s classic, Iris and the Cruisers were unable to achieve major success outside of the Pennsylvania area. Yet they still have recorded and performed in the Ohio Valley for a great many years, being known for their classic rock n roll inspired live performances. Donnie Iris and the Cruisers released their most recent album, titled 'Ah! Leluiah!', on November 18, 2010. That release is the artist's first Christmas album.
His official website is at http://www.donnieiris.com/ but the most recent news there dates from 2010.
My Girl
Donnie Iris Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I got her by my side
Sunday afternoon
I'll take her for a ride
Downtown all around town
Where everyone can see
This pretty thing
She belongs to me
[Chorus]
She's my baby
She's driving me crazy
She's got something I want you to see
Come on and show me
Show me a woman with a heart on fire
Oh show me
Show me a woman with a burning desire
You gotta show me
Show me a woman of the world
Oh and I'll show you my girl
I never knew how happy I could be
I'm digging her and the woman's digging me
Oh what a day
Got loving on my mind
Later on tonight
She'll let me know that I'm her baby
She's driving me crazy
She's got something I want you to see
Come on and show me
Show me a woman with a heart on fire
Please show me
Show me a woman with a burning desire
You gotta show me
Show me a woman of the world
Oh and I'll show you my girl
I'll show you my girl
(I'm so crazy)
Now some folks say I'm crazy about the lady
And I may be
Everybody is trying to clue me
She's a floozy and she'll use me
(You'd be crazy)
You'd be crazy about her kissing
If you knew of the loving you're missing
When I'm holding her tight
Yeah, I'm crazy all right
And there's nothing I'd rather be
[Chorus]
The song "My Girl" by Donnie Iris is a love song about a man who is proud to have his girlfriend by his side, and he wants the world to know it. The first verse describes how lucky the singer is to have his girl with him, and he takes her for a ride around town where everyone can see her. He notes that she is a "pretty thing," and that she belongs to him. The chorus affirms the singer's love for his girl, and he asks the world to show him a woman as wonderful as his girl. The second verse continues to describe the happiness the couple brings each other, and the singer notes that later that night his girl will let him know that he is her baby. Throughout the song, the singer notes how his girlfriend is driving him crazy in a good way, and he dismisses any potential negative comments about their relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey I'm a lucky guy
I feel fortunate to have this woman in my life
I got her by my side
She is my partner and companion
Sunday afternoon
A leisurely time for us to spend together
I'll take her for a ride
I plan to drive us around and enjoy each other's company
Downtown all around town
We will explore the city and all it has to offer
Where everyone can see
Our love is not something to hide, but rather to share with the world
This pretty thing
Her beauty is something to behold
She belongs to me
She is my partner and no one else's
She's my baby
She is the love of my life
She's driving me crazy
I am so in love with her that it makes me feel a bit crazy
She's got something I want you to see
I am proud of her and want others to see her greatness
Come on and show me
I am excited to see other women who are passionate and driven like she is
Show me a woman with a heart on fire
I want to meet a woman who is passionate and driven like my girlfriend
Oh show me
I am eager to find someone who matches my girlfriend's greatness
Show me a woman with a burning desire
I am looking for a woman with a strong drive and ambition
You gotta show me
I know there are other great women out there, and I want to meet them
Show me a woman of the world
I am searching for a woman who is worldly and well-rounded
Oh and I'll show you my girl
If you can find a woman who matches my girlfriend's greatness, I will gladly introduce you to her
I never knew how happy I could be
Being with my girlfriend has brought me more joy than I ever thought possible
I'm digging her and the woman's digging me
We have a strong mutual attraction and affection for each other
Oh what a day
Life is good and I am grateful for the time I get to spend with my girlfriend
Got loving on my mind
My thoughts are consumed with love for my girlfriend
Later on tonight
We have plans to spend more time together later
She'll let me know that I'm her baby
My girlfriend will express her affection and devotion to me later
Now some folks say I'm crazy about the lady
Other people may see my love for my girlfriend as obsessive or irrational
And I may be
I am aware that my love for my girlfriend is strong and may seem crazy to others
Everybody is trying to clue me
Other people are trying to make me aware of what they perceive as red flags or warning signs about my girlfriend
She's a floozy and she'll use me
Some people think my girlfriend is promiscuous and will take advantage of me
You'd be crazy
If you had a girlfriend as great as mine, you would also feel passionately and crazily in love
You'd be crazy about her kissing
Just like me, you would also love the affection and passion my girlfriend offers
If you knew of the loving you're missing
You may not understand my love for my girlfriend because you have not experienced her greatness
When I'm holding her tight
When I am physically close to my girlfriend, I feel complete and content
Yeah, I'm crazy all right
I am aware that my love for my girlfriend may seem irrational to others, but I do not care
And there's nothing I'd rather be
I am happy being in love with my girlfriend, and would not want to be anywhere else
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DONNIE IERACE, MARK AVSEC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind