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.
What Is This Thing Called Love?
Reg Owen and His Orchestra Lyrics
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Leading a life apart
When love flew in through my window wide
And quickened my hum-drum heart
Love flew in through my window
I was so happy then
But after love had stayed a little while
Love flew out again
What is this thing called love?
This funny thing called love?
Just who can solve its mystery?
Why should it make a fool of me?
I saw you there one wonderful day
You took my heart and threw my heart away
That's why I ask the Lawd up in Heaven above
What is this thing called love?
You gave me days of sunshine
You gave me nights of cheer
You made my life an enchanted dream
'Til somebody else came near
Somebody else came near you
I felt the winter's chill
And now I sit and wonder night and day
Why I love you still
The lyrics to Reg Owen and His Orchestra's song "What Is This Thing Called Love" explore the experience of love and its transformative power on an individual's life. The singer begins by describing themselves as a mundane and unremarkable person leading a separate existence from love. However, love unexpectedly enters their life, represented symbolically as flying in through their window and awakening their dormant heart. This event brings immense happiness and joy to the singer.
But just as quickly as love arrived, it departs again, leaving the singer with a sense of loss and longing. The song then transitions to the contemplation of the nature of love itself. The singer questions the mysterious and perplexing nature of love, wondering why it has the ability to make them feel foolish and vulnerable. They recall a specific encounter with the person they loved, acknowledging that their heart was both taken and discarded. Despite the heartbreak and confusion caused by this experience, the singer remains unable to stop loving the person, continuously pondering the nature of love and seeking answers from a higher power.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cole Porter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind