Stewart's music career began in 1962 when he took up busking with a harmonica. In 1963, he joined The Dimensions as a harmonica player and vocalist. In 1964, Stewart joined Long John Baldry and the All Stars before moving to the Jeff Beck Group in 1967. Joining Faces in 1969, he also maintained a solo career releasing his debut album that year. Stewart's early albums were a fusion of rock, folk music, soul music, and R&B. His third album, 1971's Every Picture Tells a Story, was his breakthrough, topping the charts in the UK, US, Canada and Australia, as did its ballad "Maggie May". His 1972 follow-up album, Never a Dull Moment, also reached number one in the UK and Australia, while going top three in the US and Canada. Its single, "You Wear It Well", topped the chart in the UK and was a moderate hit elsewhere.
After Stewart had a handful more UK top ten hits, the Faces broke up in 1975. Stewart's next few hit singles were ballads with "Sailing", off the 1975 UK and Australian number-one album, Atlantic Crossing, becoming a hit in the UK and the Netherlands (number one), Germany (number four) and other countries, but barely charting in North America. A Night on the Town (1976), his fifth straight chart-topper in the UK, began a three-album run of going number one or top three in the US, Canada, the UK and Australia with each release. That album's "Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)" spent almost two months at number one in the US and Canada, and made the top five in other countries. Foot Loose & Fancy Free (1977) contained the hit "You're in My Heart (The Final Acclaim)" as well as the rocker "Hot Legs". Blondes Have More Fun (1978) and its disco-tinged "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy" both went to number one in Canada, Australia and the US, with "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy" also hitting number one in the UK and the top ten in other countries. Stewart's albums regularly hit the upper rungs of the charts in the Netherlands throughout the 70s and in Sweden from 1975 onward.
After a disco and new wave period in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Stewart's music turned to a soft rock/middle-of-the-road style, with most of his albums reaching the top ten in the UK, Germany and Sweden, but faring less well in the US. The single "Rhythm of My Heart" was a top five hit in the UK, US and other countries, with its source album, 1991's Vagabond Heart, becoming, at number ten in the US and number two in the UK, his highest-charting album in a decade. In 1993, he collaborated with Bryan Adams and Sting on the power ballad "All for Love", which went to number one in many countries. In the early 2000s, he released a series of successful albums interpreting the Great American Songbook.
In 2008, Billboard magazine ranked him the 17th most successful artist on the "Billboard Hot 100 All-Time Top Artists". A Grammy and Brit Award recipient, he was voted at No. 33 in Q Magazine's list of the Top 100 Greatest Singers of all time. As a solo artist, Stewart was inducted into the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994, the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2006, and he was inducted a second time into the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012 as a member of Faces.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_Stewart
Studio albums
An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down (1969)
Gasoline Alley (1970)
Every Picture Tells a Story (1971)
Never a Dull Moment (1972)
Smiler (1974)
Atlantic Crossing (1975)
A Night on the Town (1976)
Foot Loose & Fancy Free (1977)
Blondes Have More Fun (1978)
Foolish Behaviour (1980)
Tonight I'm Yours (1981)
Body Wishes (1983)
Camouflage (1984)
Every Beat of My Heart (1986)
Out of Order (1988)
Vagabond Heart (1991)
A Spanner in the Works (1995)
When We Were the New Boys (1998)
Human (2001)
It Had to Be You: The Great American Songbook (2002)
As Time Goes By: The Great American Songbook, Volume II (2003)
Stardust: The Great American Songbook, Volume III (2004)
Thanks for the Memory: The Great American Songbook, Volume IV (2005)
Still the Same... Great Rock Classics of Our Time (2006)
Soulbook (2009)
Once in a Blue Moon: The Lost Album (2010)
Fly Me to the Moon... The Great American Songbook Volume V (2010)
Merry Christmas, Baby (2012)
Time (2013)
Another Country (2015)
Blood Red Roses (2018)
The Tears of Hercules (2021)
Is That the Thanks I Get?
Rod Stewart Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And let you walk all over me
Thought you knew me much better than that
I keep much better company
With your lawyers and your two timing friends
I guess you know who I mean
Your detectives and your private eyes
Just where did it get ya
What satisfaction was had
You kicked the shit right in my face
Is that all the thanks I get
You said we made such a pretty pair
Living in harmony
I'm sorry honey but I disagree
It seemed more like a comedy
Just look how you lied girl
That Judas right by your side
He hung you up so you cut me right down
Is that all the thanks I get
Guess I'll find me a brand new girl
That won't take too very long
There's so many floatin' 'round this town
Waitin' by the telephone
And if you want me I'll be in the bar
Back into my usual ways
Or on the corner with the rest of the boys
You and I were just a breath away
It was great while it lasted
But oh Lord it turned nasty
You didn't give me one chance to explain
Well is that all the thanks I get
Is that the thanks I get
Is that the thanks I get
Is that the thanks I get for loving you
Is that the thanks I get
Is that the thanks I get
Is that the thanks I get for loving you
In "Is That The Thanks I Get?" Rod Stewart sings about a failed relationship, where he feels betrayed and taken for granted. He begins the song by challenging his ex-partner's assumption that he would easily accept the way she treated him. He asserts that he is better off without her and prefers to keep much better company than her two-timing friends and detectives. The chorus of the song contains the central question- "is that all the thanks I get?" referring to the mistreatment that he experienced in the relationship.
Stewart points out the irony in his ex-partner's words that they made a "pretty pair" and were "living in harmony." He compares their relationship to a comedy rather than a symphony. In the second verse, the song takes a more bitter tone as Stewart speaks of his ex's lies and accuses her of being a "Judas." He then goes on to say that he will find another partner who will treat him better, make him happy faster than she thinks, and leave her waiting by the phone. In the final lines, Stewart reflects on the relationship, admitting that it was great while it lasted, but he was never given a chance to explain, and he deserved better treatment.
Line by Line Meaning
Did you think I'd take it sitting down
Do you really believe that I would not react to this situation and just accept everything passively?
And let you walk all over me
And allow you to use me and treat me badly.
Thought you knew me much better than that
I believed that you had a better understanding of my personality and wouldn't mess with me like this.
I keep much better company
I hang out with people who are morally superior and don't have to resort to unethical behavior.
With your lawyers and your two timing friends
You associate with dishonest people who cheat and deceive, and employ legal threats to intimidate others.
I guess you know who I mean
I'm sure you have a good idea of who I'm referring to.
Your detectives and your private eyes
You even go so far as to hire people to spy on others to try and control them.
Could never win me back again
These tactics don't work and will only push me further away from you.
Just where did it get ya
Where has this behavior led you in the end?
What satisfaction was had
Did any of these actions actually bring you any real sense of joy or fulfillment?
You kicked the shit right in my face
You really did a number on me and completely disrespected me.
Is that all the thanks I get
After all I did for you, is this how you repay me!? I expected better from you.
You said we made such a pretty pair
You made it seem like we were so perfect together and had everything going for us.
Living in harmony
Living together peacefully and without conflict.
I'm sorry honey but I disagree
I'm sorry, but I have to disagree with that statement.
It seemed more like a comedy
It felt more like a joke or some kind of farce.
Just look how you lied girl
You engaged in deceitful behavior, especially with that guy who betrayed me along with you.
That Judas right by your side
That betrayer or disloyal person whom you allied yourself with.
He hung you up so you cut me right down
He manipulated or abandoned you, so you retaliated by hurting me.
Is that all the thanks I get
Again, after all that we've been through, is this the thanks I get!? I expected better from you.
Guess I'll find me a brand new girl
I'll just find a new, better partner who won't treat me this way.
That won't take too very long
I'm confident that I won't have to wait long to find someone new.
There's so many floatin' 'round this town
There are so many eligible and interested people in this area.
Waitin' by the telephone
Just sitting around and hoping for a phone call from someone they're interested in.
And if you want me I'll be in the bar
If you're wondering where to find me, I'll be hanging out at a bar or similar social venue.
Back into my usual ways
Returning to the familiar and comfortable practices that I'm more accustomed to.
Or on the corner with the rest of the boys
I'll just be hanging out with my buddies and having a good time.
You and I were just a breath away
We were so close to each other and had a deep relationship.
It was great while it lasted
Our period together was really wonderful and enjoyable for me.
But oh Lord it turned nasty
But alas, things took a dark turn and ended with hurt and chaos.
You didn't give me one chance to explain
You didn't even afford me the opportunity to explain myself and defend my actions.
Well is that all the thanks I get
After everything's said and done, is this really all the gratitude that I receive? I deserved more than this.
Is that the thanks I get
I'm still disappointed and hurt by the way you treated me. Is this all I'm going to receive in terms of recognition?
Is that the thanks I get for loving you
Is that all the appreciation and respect that I receive from you after all the time and energy I devoted to our relationship?
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JIM CREGAN, ROD STEWART
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
KELLI RHYMER
Dad's music. I grew up on it.. I love it today, now that he's long gone. Rod Stewart, Bob Seger, and many more bring my dad's memory to life in my mind. How I miss him so much. RIP Duke. Forever in my heart and mind.
Naomi Hopkins
I understand. This was my brothers kind of music to. 🎶 Listening to Rod growing up was the best years of my life no worries back then.
ramses ramazanov
The first year I listened to this album is 1979, I was young, handsome, hopeful, romantic ..... now I'm an old man
Eric Bruder
A Genuinely awesome artist !!songs that you can feel
Debbie McFarland
I love this man! Great lyrics.
Judy Aguilar
Of all the singers Elvis and Rod Stewart are the best! I have seen Rid Stewart 13 times, and believe me it was worth every $ I spent! I love them both!💝
Lisaq1000
Judy Aguilar me too! Elvis & Rod will always be #1
Paul Mortimer
STILL love this song after all these years! awesome up loud on the heads phones.
christy edwards
STILL LISTENING IN HOT ATL,GA
Peggy Jones
Grew up to this sexy man!!! I still love him after 50 years!!!