Introduction
When Linda Ronstadt unleashed “When Will I Be Loved” in 1975, it wasn’t just another cover—it was a thunderclap across the music world. What the Everly Brothers once sang as a tender lament, Ronstadt transformed into a raw, fiery declaration of betrayal, heartbreak, and defiance. With her powerhouse voice, she didn’t just ask the question—she demanded an answer, echoing the frustration of countless women who had been lied to, cheated on, and pushed aside.
Fans were stunned. This wasn’t the sweet, polished Linda of earlier days. This was a woman on fire, a voice tearing through the walls of male-dominated rock and country. The song exploded to the top of the charts, not because it was pretty, but because it was real. Every note carried the sting of disillusionment and the fury of someone who had been promised love, only to be left empty-handed.
Behind the scenes, insiders whispered that the track reflected Ronstadt’s own heartbreaks—her restless romances, her clashes with an industry that wanted to tame her. But Linda refused to be tamed. With “When Will I Be Loved”, she seized control of the narrative and turned personal pain into a universal battle cry.
Nearly fifty years later, the song still feels dangerous. It speaks to anyone who has ever felt betrayed, abandoned, or unworthy of love. But it also carries Ronstadt’s defiant strength: the refusal to stay silent, the power of a woman demanding more than empty promises.
Linda Ronstadt didn’t just sing “When Will I Be Loved.” She bared her wounds to the world—and in doing so, made millions feel less alone.”
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?
