Owen was born George Owen Smith in Hackney, London, and began playing the saxophone at the age of 15. He played in local groups such as Teddy Joyce's Juveniles and the Royal Kiltie Juniors, before founding his own ensemble whilst still in his teens. He studied with Benny Glassman and then attended the Royal College of Music. During World War II he played in the Bomber Command Band of the RAF, then arranged for Ted Heath and Cyril Stapleton after 1945. In 1954, he had his name legally changed to Reginald Owen. He published a book, the Reg Owen Arranging Method, in 1956, and began writing film scores in 1957, including the scores to Date with Disaster (1957), Payroll (1961) and Very Important Person (1961). In 1959, he even scored a Top 40 hit in the U.S. with "Manhattan Spiritual", which peaked at #10 on the Billboard Hot 100. The same track reached #20 in the UK Singles Chart in March 1959. A further track, "Obsession", peaked at #43 in the UK in October 1960.
In 1961 Owen moved to Brussels, working as a composer, conductor, and arranger throughout continental Europe. He moved to Spain in the 1970s, and died at the Clinica Limonar in Málaga, on 23 May 1978 at the age of 57.
Oh But I Do
Reg Owen and His Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How can I show that I do?
You think I don't get blue, oh but I do
Though I get light-hearted, too
First I'm singing then I'm sighing
Then I'm flying high above
You think I don't know why, oh but I do
I know that it's you I love
First I'm singing then I'm sighing
Then I'm flying so high above
You think I don't know why, oh but I do
I know that it's you I love
In the song "Oh But I Do," Reg Owen and His Orchestra express the love that they have for someone who may not believe that they truly care for them. The lyrics express the confusion and frustration that can come with being in love with someone who doesn't see it. The first verse expresses the struggle of how to show one's love for someone, despite the belief that they don't love them. The second verse expresses the rollercoaster of emotions that can come with being in love, from feeling light-hearted to feeling blue.
The repeated line "First I'm singing then I'm sighing, then I'm flying high above" is particularly telling of the emotional turmoil that comes with being in love. The final lines of the song, "You think I don't know why, oh but I do. I know that it's you I love," encapsulate the message of the song; the singer knows that they are in love with the person, even if that love isn't recognized by the person they love.
Line by Line Meaning
You think I don't love you, oh but I do
I do love you even though you might think otherwise
How can I show that I do?
I want to know how I can prove my love to you
You think I don't get blue, oh but I do
I do get sad even though you might not see it
Though I get light-hearted, too
I also feel happy at times
First I'm singing then I'm sighing
I have moments of joy and moments of sadness
Then I'm flying high above
I feel like I'm on top of the world sometimes
You think I don't know why, oh but I do
I know that the reason for my feelings is because of you
I know that it's you I love
My love is for you and no one else
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ELLA FITZGERALD, KENNETH WATTS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind