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.
The Last to Know
Donnie Iris Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh baby
I never thought I'd go through what you put me through
Oh baby
You been out running around
All my friends told me so
You better tell me yourself
What everyone seems to know
[Chorus]
I was the first one there
The first to share
The last to let it go
Is the first to hear I told you so
Always the last to know
The girl of my dreams
The love of my life
Oh baby
To feel the words that she speaks
Suddenly cut like a knife
To kiss the lips that I knew
And know they're not mine anymore
After the loving is through
To know someone's been there before
I can't' let go
I tried but I know
That I'll never be able to trust any woman again
Every time that I follow my heart
I reach a dead end
[Chorus]
The one who always see the best of it
Always feels the heartache most
He never seems to see the rest of it
He's always last to know
The lyrics of Donnie Iris’s song “The Last to Know” speaks about the singer’s heartbreak due to the actions of his former lover. The song starts off with him acknowledging he never thought his lover was capable of doing the things she did. He then talks about how he was the last to find out about her unfaithfulness, despite all his friends knowing about it. The chorus talks about how he was the first person to be in the relationship, the first one to share, and yet he also ended up being the last to let go, thus making him the first person to hear the devastating news. The song finishes with the singer admitting that he can no longer trust any woman because of his experience.
The song expresses the pain of being the last person to know the truth in a situation. The singer's emotions sound raw and direct. He feels betrayed, and he is finding it hard to let go of the hurt, and hence he wants the woman to tell him herself what has been going on. He is also angry at himself for not being able to move on and trust someone new because he feels as though his emotions were not valued.
The song has a relatable theme of heartbreak and betrayal that many people can relate to. The lyrics, melody, and overall delivery of the song have made it a classic hit. The song's interpretation is straightforward, but it holds the message that the truth always catches up with us regardless of what we do. We can try to hide our actions, but eventually, the truth will always shine through.
Line by Line Meaning
I never thought you could do the things that you do
I never believed that you were capable of doing the things you have done.
I never thought I'd go through what you put me through
I never thought that I would have to endure the pain and suffering that you have caused me.
You been out running around
You have been cheating on me and seeing other people.
All my friends told me so
All of my friends have informed me of your infidelity and deceit.
You better tell me yourself
You need to confess and be honest with me about what you have been doing.
What everyone seems to know
The fact that you are cheating on me seems to be common knowledge amongst everyone.
I was the first one there
I was the first person who was there for you and who loved you unconditionally.
The first to share
I was the first one who shared my love and affection with you.
The last to let it go
Despite all that you have done, I have been unable to let go of my feelings for you and move on.
Is the first to hear I told you so
I will be the first person to hear from others that they warned me about you and that I should have seen this coming.
Always the last to know
I am always the last one to find out the truth about what is happening in my life.
The girl of my dreams
You were the woman I dreamed of spending my life with.
The love of my life
You were my one true love, the person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.
To feel the words that she speaks
When you talk to me, I feel every word you say.
Suddenly cut like a knife
But your words hurt me deeply, like a sharp knife cutting through me.
To kiss the lips that I knew
When we were together, I loved kissing your lips.
And know they're not mine anymore
Knowing that I am no longer able to kiss your lips is painful for me.
After the loving is through
After our relationship has ended and there is nothing left between us.
To know someone's been there before
Realizing that someone else has been with you sexually after our relationship ended.
I can't' let go
I cannot move on from our relationship despite how much you have hurt me.
I tried but I know
I have tried to move on, but I know that it is not easy.
That I'll never be able to trust any woman again
Your actions have made me feel like I will never be able to trust any woman again in my life.
Every time that I follow my heart
Whenever I let my emotions guide me and follow my heart's desires.
I reach a dead end
I find myself at a point where there is no hope for progress or improvement.
The one who always see the best of it
I tend to always see the positive outcomes and best possible scenarios in any situation.
Always feels the heartache most
As a result of seeing the best in situations, I am often hit hardest when things don't work out as planned or when I am betrayed.
He never seems to see the rest of it
Despite seeing the positives, I often fail to see the negative aspects or potential downsides of a situation.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DONNIE IERACE, MARK AVSEC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Darren Longshanks
I bought this album after hearing it on YouTube - really love his music.
oldpinkfloyd69
+Darren Longshanks He is fantastic!!!
DM143
"The Last to Know" is a favorite of mine. Great vocals.
Chris Lang
They need to have this on Apple Music. Lost the CD.
Ata Karabulut
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kickaha426
Daahhnee!