"When Will I Be Loved" is a song written by American musician Phil Everly o… Read Full Bio ↴"When Will I Be Loved" is a song written by American musician Phil Everly of The Everly Brothers, who had a US top-ten hit with it in 1960. Linda Ronstadt covered the song in 1975 (rearranging the verses of the original by transposing the first and fourth verses) that was an even bigger hit in the US, peaking at No. 2.

When Will I Be Loved
Linda Ronstadt Lyrics

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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?

Overall Meaning

In Linda Ronstadt's song "When Will I Be Loved," the singer is expressing her frustration and disappointment with romantic relationships. She has been cheated on and mistreated, and she wonders when she will find someone who will truly love and respect her. The song's repeated phrase "When will I be loved?" is a poignant expression of the singer's longing for love and her belief that she has not yet experienced it.

The lyrics also suggest a certain resignation on the part of the singer. She seems to have accepted that finding love is not easy for her, and that she is likely to be hurt again in the future. When she finds a new man that she wants for herself, she says, "He always breaks my heart in two / It happens every time." This line conveys a sense of inevitability, as if the singer has come to expect disappointment and heartbreak.

Overall, "When Will I Be Loved" is a powerful depiction of the pain and frustration of searching for love, and the hope that someday, the search will finally be successful.

Line by Line Meaning

I've been cheated
I have been deceived by someone

Been mistreated
I have been treated unfairly or poorly

When will I be loved?
When will I find someone who will truly love me and treat me well?

I've been put down
Someone has tried to make me feel inferior or worthless

I've been pushed 'round
I have been bullied or physically moved against my will

When I find a new man
Whenever I come across a potential romantic partner

That I want for mine
That I desire to be in a relationship with

He always breaks my heart in two
Every time I get involved with someone, they end up hurting me emotionally

It happens every time
This scenario occurs repeatedly, regardless of the specific person involved

Oh, I've been cheated
Once again, I have been deceived by someone

Been mistreated
Once again, I have been treated unfairly or poorly