About the song
When **Linda Ronstadt** stepped onto the stage in 1976 to perform **”You’re No Good”** live, she wasn’t just singing a breakup anthem—she was claiming her place as one of the most versatile and powerful voices in American popular music. This performance captures a critical moment in her career, when she had successfully crossed over from country-rock roots to mainstream stardom, fusing emotional intensity with technical finesse. And **”You’re No Good”**, a song originally recorded by Dee Dee Warwick in the ’60s, became Ronstadt’s first No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100—largely due to her 1974 studio version. But hearing it **live in 1976**? That’s something else entirely.
What stands out immediately is Ronstadt’s **command of the stage**. Her voice, at once steely and soulful, balances heartbreak with defiance. She doesn’t simply lament a broken relationship—she delivers a cool, assertive dismissal. There’s a confident swing in her phrasing, a razor’s edge to her tone, that communicates a kind of emotional emancipation. The live setting sharpens that energy. Her band, tight and punchy, drives the song with a bluesy urgency. That guitar riff—taut and relentless—serves as both anchor and attitude, underscoring Ronstadt’s fierce delivery.
What makes this live rendition particularly compelling for longtime listeners is how it captures the **emotional truth** of the song in a raw, unvarnished way. Without the polish of the studio, we hear the grit in her voice, the subtle improvisations that remind us we’re in the presence of a seasoned interpreter, not just a singer. And Ronstadt was always more than a voice—she was a curator of great material, often reviving forgotten or underappreciated songs and giving them new life.
In **”You’re No Good”**, especially in this **1976 live performance**, she embodies a transitional moment—not just for herself, but for American music in general. It’s where rock, pop, and country began blending more freely, and where female artists began asserting their power in a male-dominated industry. This rendition stands as a snapshot of that era: bold, unflinching, and unforgettable.
Video
Lyrics
Feelin’ better now that we’re through
Feelin’ better, ’cause I’m over you
I learned my lesson, it left a scar
Now I see how you really are
You’re no good
You’re no good
You’re no good
Baby, you’re no good
I’m gonna say it again
You’re no good
You’re no good
You’re no good
Baby, you’re no good
I broke a heart that’s gentle and true
Well, I broke a heart over someone like you
I’ll beg his forgiveness on bended knee
I wouldn’t blame him if he said to me
You’re no good
You’re no good
You’re no good
Baby, you’re no good
I’m gonna say it again
You’re no good
You’re no good
You’re no good
Baby, you’re no good
I’m tellin’ you now, baby
And I’m going my way
Forget about you, baby
‘Cause I’m leavin’ to stay
You’re no good
You’re no good
You’re no good
Baby, you’re no good
I’m gonna say it again
You’re no good
You’re no good
You’re no good
Baby, you’re no good
Oh, oh, no
You’re no good
You’re no good
You’re no good
Baby, you’re no good
You’re no good
You’re no good
You’re no good
You’re no good
You’re no good
You’re no good, oh
You’re no good
You’re no good
You’re no good
You’re no good
You’re no good, oh
You’re no good
You’re no good
You’re no good
You’re no good
You’re no good
You’re no good, whoa
You’re no good
You’re no good
You’re no good
Maybe you’re good
