About the song
“Long Long Time.” Released in 1970 as a single from her second solo album, Silk Purse, this track became her first major hit, reaching number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earning her a Grammy nomination. It’s far more than just a popular song; it’s a poignant, raw exploration of longing, loneliness, and the bittersweet hope that perhaps, one day, love will finally be returned. It cemented Linda Ronstadt’s place as a singular voice capable of conveying immense vulnerability and heartache.
The lyrics of “Long Long Time,” penned by Gary White, paint a vivid picture of a narrator caught in the painful cycle of loving someone who doesn’t reciprocate their feelings. There’s a desperate yearning, a wistful hope that their beloved will eventually see them in a romantic light, even as the present reality is one of enduring loneliness. The passage of time is emphasized, highlighting the extended period of this emotional purgatory. Phrases like “I’ve been in love with you for a long long time / I want to be your everything” and “But if I can’t be your lover / Then I’ll just be your friend” perfectly capture this blend of deep affection, quiet desperation, and the painful resignation that often accompanies unrequited love. The song speaks to the universal human experience of loving someone from afar, waiting patiently for a change of heart that may never come, and the quiet dignity of continuing to care despite the personal cost. It’s about the profound sadness that can stem from a one-sided connection and the resilience required to carry that hope, however faint. It resonates deeply with anyone who has ever loved someone more than they were loved in return.
Linda Ronstadt’s vocal performance on “Long Long Time” is absolutely masterful and showcases her extraordinary ability to convey raw, unvarnished emotion. Her voice, even in these early years, possessed an incredible purity, a remarkable control, and an emotive quality that was simply unmatched. She delivers the lyrics with a palpable sense of yearning, a fragile vulnerability, and an underlying ache that makes the heartbreak profoundly real. She doesn’t just sing the words; she inhabits the narrator’s quiet despair and enduring hope, making the listener feel every nuance of her unspoken longing. There’s a perfect blend of delicate phrasing in the verses and powerful, soaring emotional releases in the chorus, a controlled intensity that makes the song incredibly poignant and universally relatable. Ronstadt’s brilliance lies in her unparalleled ability to infuse such a deeply personal narrative with authentic feeling, connecting with audiences on a visceral, empathetic level through the sheer honesty and breathtaking beauty of her instrument. It’s a masterclass in conveying profound sadness and enduring hope through song.
The musical arrangement of “Long Long Time” in Linda Ronstadt’s rendition is characteristically sparse, acoustic-driven, and deeply melancholic, perfectly fitting the song’s themes of unrequited love and patient suffering. It typically features a gentle, melodic acoustic guitar that provides a tender, inviting foundation, complemented by subtle, weeping steel guitar lines that add a layer of country sorrow and wistfulness. The rhythm section is understated and deliberate, creating a slow, swaying pace that emphasizes the “long, long time” of the title. The instrumentation is kept minimal, allowing Ronstadt’s stunning vocals and the poignant lyrics to remain front and center, creating an intimate atmosphere that feels deeply personal. The production is clean, warm, and remarkably clear, ensuring that every instrumental nuance and, crucially, Linda Ronstadt’s incredible vocal are heard with pristine clarity, enhancing the song’s profound emotional impact and its undeniable accessibility. It’s an arrangement that feels both intimate and universally appealing, perfectly suited for a heartfelt lament.
“Long Long Time” resonated profoundly with audiences because its universal themes of unrequited love, enduring hope, and the ache of emotional waiting are deeply understood and intensely felt. It became Linda Ronstadt’s breakthrough hit, a true signature song that launched her career and solidified her legacy as one of the most powerful and empathetic voices in popular music. It remains a timeless classic, a powerful and exhilarating reminder of that agonizing yet persistent feeling, waiting for a Long Long Time.
Video
Lyrics
Love will abide
Take things in stride
Sounds like good advice
But there’s no one at my side
And time washes clean love’s wounds unseen
That’s what someone told me
But I don’t know what it means
‘Cause I’ve done everything I know
To try and make you mine
And I think I’m gonna love you
For a long long time
Caught in my fears
Blinking back the tears
I can’t say you hurt me
When you never let me near
And I never drew one response from you
All the while you fell all over girls you never knew
‘Cause I’ve done everything I know
To try and make you mine
And I think it’s gonna hurt me
For a long long time
Wait for the day you’ll go away
Knowing that you warned me
Of the price I’d have to pay
And life’s full of flaws
Who knows the cause?
Living in the memory of a love that never was
‘Cause I’ve done everything I know
To try and change your mind
And I think I’m gonna miss you
For a long long time
‘Cause I’ve done everything I know
To try and make you mine
And I think I’m gonna love you
For a long long time
