Linda Ronstadt – When Will I Be Loved

Linda Ronstadt – When Will I Be Loved, is a popular song written by Phil Everly of the Everly Brothers, who had a US top-ten hit with it in 1960. Linda Ronstadt covered the song in 1975, and her version was an even bigger hit in the US, peaking at No. 2. Vince Gill also covered it in 1994 on the soundtrack of the film 8 Seconds.

The song had its highest profile when Linda Ronstadt covered it on her album Heart Like A Wheel. This version rearranges the verses of the Everly Brothers original, transposing the first and fourth verses. Capitol Records was reportedly unsure whether to release “When Will I Be Loved” or “You’re No Good” as the lead 45 off of Heart Like a Wheel, finally deciding to issue “You’re No Good” as the premier single. “When Will I Be Loved” was issued as the second single in March 1975.

The song hit number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in June of that year, as well as number 1 in Cash Box; only the chart dominance of the year’s biggest hit, “Love Will Keep Us Together” by Captain & Tennille, prevented Ronstadt from having consecutive number 1 hit singles on the Hot 100. Billboard did afford a number 1 ranking to “When Will I Be Loved” on its C&W chart. The song has sold 268,000 copies in the United States since becoming available for digital download as of January 2020.

As Ronstadt’s “When Will I Be Loved” descended the charts, its B-side, a remake of Buddy Holly’s “It Doesn’t Matter Anymore”, garnered enough airplay to chart at number 47 Pop, number 20 Adult Contemporary, and number 54 Country.

Linda Ronstadt – When Will I Be Loved
From the album Heart Like a Wheel
B-side “It Doesn’t Matter Anymore”
Released March 25, 1975
Genre Country rock, soft rock
Length 2:04
Label Capitol
Songwriter(s) Phil Everly
Producer(s) Peter Asher

COUNTRYPEDIA

Linda Ronstadt – When Will I Be Loved Lyrics

[Chorus 1]
I’ve been cheated
Been mistreated
When will I be loved?

[Chorus 2]
I’ve been put down
I’ve been pushed ’round
When will I be loved?

[Bridge]
When I find a new man
That I want for mine
He always breaks my heart in two
It happens every time
[Chorus 3]
I’ve been made blue
I’ve been lied to
When will I be loved?

[Instrumental]

[Bridge]
When I find a new man
That I want for mine
He always breaks my heart in two
It happens every time

[Chorus 1]
Oh, I’ve been cheated
Been mistreated
When will I be loved?

[Outro]
When will I be loved?
Tell me, when will I be loved?

GENIUS