Happy Thanksgiving! While there is an abundance of Christmas songs (music journalist Annie Zaleski wrote a great book on 100 of them), Thanksgiving songs are few and far between. In fact, the only one that immediately comes to mind is Arlo Guthrie’s spoken-word epic “Alice’s Restaurant.”
Since there aren’t many Thanksgiving ditties, I started thinking of my favorite songs that express gratitude. To narrow it down further, I came up with tracks containing some version of “thank you” or “thanks” in the title. The result is the following 10 thankful songs, which span over 55 years and cover a variety of genres. Cue these tunes this Thanksgiving as you feast, reflect on your blessings, and, as William DeVaughn sang, be thankful for what you got.
Anita O’Day – “Thanks for the Memory”
Songwriters: Ralph Rainger and Leo Robin
Genre: Jazz
Released: 1962
This lesser-known standard was originally composed by Ralph Rainger (with lyrics by Leo Robin) for the film The Big Broadcast of 1938, starring W.C. Fields. Everyone from Bing Cosby and Frank Sinatra to Ella Fitzgerald and Rosemary Clooney has recorded “Thanks for the Memory.” I chose the version by jazz icon Anita O’Day, who cut it for her album Time for 2, a collaborative effort with vibraphone virtuoso Cal Tjader. In this unique rendition, O’Day’s impeccable rhythmic phrasings are a perfect match for Tjader’s Latin grooves.
Sam & Dave – “I Thank You”
Songwriters: Isaac Hayes and David Porter
Genre: Soul
Released: 1968
Nicknamed “Double Dynamite,” Sam & Dave were among the most electric performers of the 1960s. The gritty soul duo – comprised of Sam Moore, the gospel-infused tenor, and Dave Prater, the smooth baritone – notched an impressive run of 10 consecutive Top 20 R&B hits over two years. “I Thank You,” their final single released on the Stax label, peaked at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #4 on the R&B chart. ZZ Top covered “I Thank You” for their sixth studio album, Degüello. The power trio’s boogie-rock version peaked at #34 on the Hot 100 in 1980.
Led Zeppelin – “Thank You”
Songwriters: Jimmy Page and Robert Plant
Genre: Rock
Released: 1969
The sentimental closer of the first side of Led Zeppelin II, “Thank You” was written by singer Robert Plant for his wife, Maureen Wilson. “Thank You” isn’t actually found in the lyrics, but Plant makes clear his love and appreciation for his wife: “Kind woman/I give you my all.” An affecting organ solo from bassist John Paul Jones closes out the track.
Big Star – “Thank You Friends”
Songwriter: Alex Chilton
Genre: Power pop
Released: 1978 (recorded in 1974)
On “Thank You Friends,” singer and lyricist Alex Chilton sarcastically thanks his pals for their support through the years. Although Big Star is now hailed as power pop innovators, commercial success evaded the band throughout their four-year run in the ‘70s. “Thank You Friends” was recorded in 1974 but wasn’t released until 1978 as part of their third release, Third. While “Thank You Friends” boasts the group’s signature hooks and sense of melody, that album (first reissued in 1985 as Third/Sister Lovers) was a break from their poppier first two records, featuring darker, slower songs like “Holocaust.”
Alicia Myers – “I Want to Thank You”
Songwriter: Kevin McCord
Genre: R&B
Released: 1982
Detroit-born R&B singer Alicia Myers got her first big break as a member of the funk group One Way, who had a Top Ten R&B hit with “Cutie Pie.” Myers scored several solo hits in the early ‘80s, the first being “I Want to Thank You.” In the opening verses, Myers thanks God for sending her a man who loves her, and on the bridge, encourages everyone to keep the faith. The song’s four-on-the-floor groove has been sampled by numerous artists, including Mariah Carey, Chris Brown, and The Weeknd.
Bob Marley & The Wailers – “Give Thanks & Praises”
Songwriter: Bob Marley
Genre: Reggae
Released: 1983
“Give Thanks & Praises” is a deep cut from Confrontation, the final studio album from Bob Marley & The Wailers released two years after the reggae legend’s untimely death. Marley, a devout Rastafari, sings about thanking and praising Jah (God), the shortened version of Yahweh (Jehovah) in the Rasta religion. The soothing track is elevated by sublime backing vocals from the I-Threes (Rita Marley, Marcia Griffiths, and Judy Mowatt).
Dido – “Thank You”
Songwriters: Dido Armstrong and Paul Herman
Genre: Dream pop/downtempo
Released: 1998
Dido’s “Thank You” first appeared on the soundtrack to the 1998 film Sliding Doors. Two years later, it was released as a single from her debut album, No Angel, and became a worldwide smash. Dido wrote “Thank You” as a tribute to her lawyer boyfriend Bob Page, whom she had met in 1995. The lyrics are about how she was depressed and lost her house, but just being with Page was the best day of her life. The drums on the track are sampled from Dexter Wansel’s 1976 jazz-fusion instrumental “Theme from the Planets.” Rapper Eminem sampled the entire melody of “Thank You” for his 2000 hit “Stan.”
Boz Scaggs – “Thanks To You”
Songwriters: Boz Scaggs and David Paich
Genre: Rock
Released: 2001
Boz Scaggs’ “Thanks To You” is from Dig, a chill, late-night R&B record that might just be the most underrated entry in the singer-songwriter’s 19-LP catalog. The lyrics, presumably from the perspective of a despondent Scaggs, express gratitude to a new lover for giving him a reason to get out of bed in the morning. I especially like the closing stanza: “That one-handed applause/That unspoken word/That treefall in the forest someone finally heard.” Thanks to the smooth Steely Dan-esque production featuring horns and bubbling synth bass, the song has been used to demo stereo equipment at HiFi conventions.
Fall Out Boy – “Thnks Fr th Mmrs”
Songwriters: Pete Wentz, Patrick Stump, Joe Trohman, and Andy Hurley
Genre: Pop punk
Released: 2007
“Thnks Fr th Mmrs” (a disemvoweling of “Thanks for the Memories”) is one of many anthems from beloved pop-punk/emo band Fall Out Boy. Bassist Pete Wentz told Genius that “Thnks Fr th Mmrs” centers on a broken relationship while also having a commentary on society’s obsession with fame. When researching this song, I was most surprised to learn that it was produced by Babyface, who’s known for making dozens of R&B chart-toppers. For more emo and pop-punk bangers, check out Kelly Riley’s list Angst of the Aughts: 10 Scene-Kid Jams to Scream Today.
Ariana Grande – “Thank U, Next”
Songwriters: Ariana Grande, Victoria Monét, Tayla Parx, NJOMZA, Scootie, Michael “Mikey” Foster, and TBHits
Genre: Pop
Released: 2018
On “Thank U, Next,” Ariana Grande, pop singer and star of the current hit musical film Wicked, name drops her famous ex-boyfriends, explains why each relationship went awry, and ultimately thanks them for the valuable life lessons she received. The music video is a clever homage to early-aughts teen comedies like Mean Girls, Bring It On, and Legally Blonde. “Thank U, Next” topped the Billboard Hot 100 for seven weeks in 2018.
