Linda Ronstadt – “Long, Long Time” (1970)

A heartbreak anthem wrapped in velvet vocals.

Released in 1970 on her debut solo album Silk Purse, “Long, Long Time” was the breakthrough that revealed Linda Ronstadt not just as a rising star — but as one of the most emotionally powerful voices of her generation. Written by Gary White, the song became her first solo hit, peaking at #25 on the Billboard Hot 100, and setting the tone for a career defined by vulnerability, elegance, and vocal mastery.

“Love will abide, take things in stride / Sounds like good advice, but there’s no one at my side…”
With just those opening lines, the ache is palpable.

Backed by a haunting string arrangement and understated instrumentation, Ronstadt delivers a performance filled with restrained sorrow and quiet devastation. It’s the sound of loving someone who may never love you back — of hope slowly dissolving into resignation. What makes it so unforgettable is how Linda never oversings — she simply feels, letting every note ache with longing.

The track showcased Ronstadt’s uncanny ability to blend country, folk, and pop into something entirely her own — and proved she wasn’t just a voice, but a storyteller of heartbreaks both grand and deeply personal.

 Over 50 years later, “Long, Long Time” found new life through its poignant use in HBO’s The Last of Us (2023), soundtracking a moment of profound beauty and loss — and introducing a whole new generation to the timeless grace of Linda Ronstadt’s artistry.

It’s not just a song. It’s a memory, a wound, a whisper — and a reminder that some voices never fade.