The Things We Do For Love - 10cc (1977) 2/7/21

One day in 1976, while Eric Stewart and Graham Goldman of 10cc were working on their next songwriting effort, Eric suggested lyrics about suicide. Graham thought that was a pretty bad idea, and after a few minutes, he convinced Eric they should write a love song instead.

Good call!

Eric had a title in mind, “The Things We Do For Love,” which led them both to think about communication and compromise—and going the extra mile.

Once they hit on THAT idea, Eric knew he could illustrate the point with an auto- biographical touch.

It seems that one winter's day, Eric wanted to call his fiance' but he didn't have a phone in his flat, so he went out to find a phone booth. Unfortunately, the weather was awful: snow, sleet, wind...basically a blizzard. When he got to the booth, the phone was out. In fact, ALL the phones were out in his area that day.

By the time he got back home, he was wet and freezing...and all he could think was: “Geez, the things I do for love!”

Before long, Eric and Graham had finished the song, and when 10cc's next album, “Deceptive Bends” came out in 1977, “The Things We Do For Love” was released as the first single and marched right up the charts! In Canada and Ireland, it went to #1, in Australia and the US, it reached #5, and in the UK it peaked at #6!

Then, in 1996, the song was back on the charts, with a cover version by Amy Grant that was used in the movie “Mr. Wrong.” Amy's version went to #8 on Canada's Adult Contemporary Chart, and #24 in the US on Billboard's matching chart.

“The Things We Do For Love,” a “Great Song of the '70s” (and 1996)! And thankfully NOT about suicide!”

10cc: (1977):

Amy Grant (1996):