About the song
Few voices in American popular music history have possessed the clarity, emotional nuance, and sheer power of **Linda Ronstadt**. Her 1974 rendition of **When Will I Be Loved**, originally written and recorded by the Everly Brothers in 1960, is one of those rare covers that not only honors the spirit of the original but elevates it to new artistic heights. Featured on her critically acclaimed *Heart Like a Wheel* album, the track became a defining moment in Ronstadt’s career and a staple in the canon of 1970s country-rock.
What makes **When Will I Be Loved · Linda Ronstadt** so enduring is not just its catchiness—though its two-and-a-half-minute runtime is as tight and accessible as any pop hit—but the emotional weight Ronstadt brings to it. While the Everly Brothers’ version was plaintive and melodic, Ronstadt transforms it into a raw, almost defiant declaration of frustration and longing. She doesn’t just ask *“When will I be loved?”*—she demands to know, with a voice that’s at once vulnerable and powerful, aching and resolute.
Instrumentally, the arrangement is crisp and rooted in the rich traditions of American roots music, blending country, rock, and folk influences. The harmonies are tight, the rhythm guitar steady, and the production—under the guidance of Peter Asher—is clean without being sterile. But it’s Ronstadt’s voice that takes center stage. Her phrasing is impeccable, her tone soulful, and her delivery filled with both heartbreak and resilience. In her hands, the song becomes a universal lament for anyone who’s ever felt mistreated or overlooked in love.
**When Will I Be Loved · Linda Ronstadt** isn’t just a cover; it’s a reclamation of a classic by a woman who knew how to embody strength through vulnerability. It speaks across generations, a simple song with complex emotions, made unforgettable by one of the great interpretive singers of our time. Would you like an introduction to another Ronstadt song or perhaps a deeper look into *Heart Like a Wheel* as a whole?
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?
