Formed around the partnership of Lowe with Edmunds, the two musicians inspired by melodic 50s and 60s rock n roll, the band took its name from the title of a 1972 album by Edmunds. Rockpile was primarily known as a backup group to those two artists' solo projects. However, the band did release one official album, titled 'Seconds of Pleasure' in 1980, which spawned the minor hit "Teacher Teacher" while also receiving strong critical praise. In August of that year, the guys played the noted Heatwave festival near Toronto, and the group additionally made their only American television appearance on the ABC variety program 'Fridays'. The band broke up in 1981.
When Will I Be Loved
Rockpile Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've been lied to
When will I be loved?
I've been turned down
I've been pushed round
When will I be loved?
That I want for mine
She always breaks my heart in two
It happens every time
I've been cheated
Been mistreated
When will I be loved?
When I meet a new girl
That I want for mine
She always breaks my heart in two
It happens all the time
I've been cheated
Been mistreated
When will I be loved?
When will I be loved?
When will I be loved?
Rockpile's song When Will I Be Loved is a classic example of a heartbreak song. The lyrics convey the pain and disappointment experienced by the singer in his romantic entanglements. The repeated refrain, "When will I be loved?", highlights the universal desire for love and companionship that transcends individual experience. The first two stanzas of the song speak to the singer's experiences of being made blue, lied to, turned down, and pushed round, all indicative of someone who is used to being let down when it comes to matters of the heart.
The second half of the song further encapsulate the singer's repetition of negative experiences when it comes to finding love. He is continuously met with women who break his heart in two, cheat on him, and mistreat him. This representation of an individual who is unlucky in love is something many can relate to. The lyrics serve as a reminder that despite putting oneself out there often and looking for love in new places, heartbreak can still be quite familiar.
Rockpile's "When Will I Be Loved" was written by Phil Everly of the Everly Brothers in 1960. Linda Ronstadt had a hit version of the song in 1975 which reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It is also interesting to note that Elvis Presley performed a cover of the song as well. The song has been covered by various artists over the years, such as Bruce Springsteen and Emmylou Harris.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been made blue
I have been made sad
I've been lied to
People have told me untruths
When will I be loved?
When will someone show me genuine love and care?
I've been turned down
I have been rejected in romantic situations
I've been pushed round
I have been treated poorly and without respect
When I meet a new girl
That I want for mine
She always breaks my heart in two
It happens every time
Whenever I meet a girl I like, she always ends up hurting me and breaking my heart
I've been cheated
People have been unfaithful to me
Been mistreated
I have been treated poorly and unfairly
When will I be loved?
When will someone genuinely love and care for me? I feel unappreciated and overlooked
When will I be loved?
I want to know when I will have true love and companionship in my life
When will I be loved?
I am looking for someone to treat me with love and respect, and I wonder when I will find that person
Contributed by Madison S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.