About the Song
When Will I Be Loved is a poignant ballad written by Phil Everly, inspired by his personal relationship struggles. The song’s origins trace back to a moment when Phil was parked outside an A&W root beer stand, reflecting on his on-and-off romance with Jackie Ertel-Bleyer, the stepdaughter of Cadence Records founder Archie Bleyer. Phil and Jackie married in 1963, but their marriage ended in divorce nearly a decade later in 1972. The song captures a man’s lament over his repeated misfortunes in love, questioning when he will finally find happiness in a relationship.
By 1960, The Everly Brothers had transitioned from their previous label, Cadence Records, to Warner Bros. They had already shifted their sound from rockabilly to mainstream pop-rock, with their #1 hit Cathy’s Clown
Recorded in Nashville in February 1960, When Will I Be Loved featured legendary musicians such as Chet Atkins on guitar and Floyd Cramer on piano. The track’s signature Everly Brothers harmonies, sung in perfect diatonic thirds, became a defining characteristic of the song. Though it reflected the band’s earlier country-rock influences, it was one of the final hits in that style before they fully embraced their new pop-oriented sound with Warner Bros. This marked a pivotal moment in their career, as the song’s success further solidified the Everly Brothers’ place in pop history.
Lyrics
I’ve been made blue
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?
When I meet a new girl
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 every time
I’ve been cheated
Been mistreated
When will I be loved?
When will I be loved?
When will I be loved?
