The United States may have an official day of gratitude every November with Thanksgiving, but for many of us, most every day could be a day of appreciation.

A sincere "thank you" is rewarding for everyone: It feels good to say it and it feels good to hear it.

However, appreciation can be complicated and "thank you" may come with a twist. Sometimes we're grateful (in hindsight, at least) for the lessons we've learned from difficult people. Sometimes we feel generalized happiness for family and/or friends. Sometimes we're just thankful to no one in particular that we're happy for no reason in particular.

And of course sometimes expressions of gratitude are just a cover for dark feelings.

In this episode of "How We Heard It" your hosts sift through an array of old and new songs that directly or indirectly express gratitude. Artists include Ariana Grande, Harry Styles, The Kinks, Sly and the Family Stone, The Beatles, Big Star, Natalie Merchant, Taylor Swift, Bob Hope, Elton John, Louis Armstrong, Rihanna, Gwen Stefani, The Beach Boys, Backstreet Boys, Alanis Morissette, James Taylor, Small Faces, Kool & the Gang, U2, Spice Girls, Boyz II Men and many more.

Thanks for listening!