The Things We Do For Love – 10cc | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning

Chart Performance: Pop (#5); 1977

Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne

Eric Stewart was one-time member of the British Invasion Mindbenders when they scored a #2 hit with A Groovy Kind Of Love. Graham Gouldman wrote classic 60’s songs for the Hollies (Bus Stop), Herman’s Hermits (Listen People and No Milk Today), and the Yardbirds (For Your Love and Heart Full Of Soul).

The two combined their talents in a latter-day Mindbenders line-up, and began playing in the studio with Lol Creme and Kevin Godley. The four moonlighted together for several years before appearing on record as 10cc.

After their first two releases – Donna and Rubber Bullets – gave the Brit chart a #2 and #1 one-two punch, 10cc landed a string of singles on the UK hit list.

The seventh, I’m Not In Love, broke them in America. Post-Love, Godley and Creme split; leaving Gouldman and Stewart and a fluid supporting cast to carry on. The result was 1977’s Deceptive Bends for which Gouldman and Stewart wrote all the songs including The Things We Do For Love.

This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2024 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.

Produced by:

  • 10cc

Lyrics Written by:

  • Eric Stewart
  • Graham Gouldman

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Ed Osborne

Hi. I got my first record at age two and never looked back, spending a decades-long career in radio and the music business. Even after years of reading about and listening to all types of music, I am still fascinated by it. Apart from that, I’m endlessly intrigued by art, nature, and the inner lives of people (and dogs).