About the song
Few voices in American popular music history carry the emotional resonance and crystalline clarity of **Linda Ronstadt**. Her interpretation of **“When Will I Be Loved”**, originally penned and recorded by **The Everly Brothers** in 1960, transforms a succinct pop lament into a declaration of vulnerability with a spine of steel. Released in 1975 on her *Heart Like a Wheel* album, this version quickly became a hit in its own right, reaching No. 2 on the **Billboard Hot 100**, and for good reason—it’s a masterclass in how to reinterpret a song without losing its soul.
What sets **Ronstadt’s** performance apart isn’t just her vocal range or precision, though both are extraordinary. It’s the way she delivers the line “When will I be loved?”—as both a question and an accusation. There’s a deep weariness in her voice, but also a flicker of defiance. That balance between tenderness and strength is at the heart of her artistry, and nowhere is it more apparent than in this track. While **The Everly Brothers** offered the song as a tight, melodic pop harmony, **Ronstadt** brings it into the country-rock realm, layering it with rich harmonies and jangling guitar work that reflect the California sound of the 1970s.
Musically, the arrangement leans into its rootsy elements, giving it a warmth and immediacy that align with **Ronstadt’s** background in country and folk. Her band, which included members of what would become **The Eagles**, delivers a clean, confident backing that never overshadows the voice at the center. In fact, one of the joys of listening to this recording is hearing how every element seems designed to elevate her performance. It’s a reminder that, even in a song barely two minutes long, profound emotional landscapes can be explored.
**“When Will I Be Loved”** isn’t merely a cover—it’s a reclamation. **Ronstadt** took a male-penned, male-performed heartbreak song and reframed it through the lens of a woman who’s had enough. It’s direct, plaintive, and utterly relatable. For listeners who lived through the turbulence of love in the ’60s and ’70s, or for those discovering her now, the question she asks still echoes sharply: *When will I be loved?*
Video
Lyrics
I’ve been cheated
Been mistreated
When will I be loved?
I’ve been put down
I’ve been pushed ’round
When will I be loved?
When I find a new man
That I want for mine
He always breaks my heart in two
It happens every time
I’ve been made blue
I’ve been lied to
When will I be loved?
When I find a new man
That I want for mine
He always breaks my heart in two
It happens every time
Oh, I’ve been cheated
Been mistreated
When will I be loved?
When will I be loved?
Tell me, when will I be loved?
