More recent generations from overseas may not even be familiar with Linda Ronstadt’s voice or even her name, but she was one of America’s greatest singers from the 1970s until the 2000s when she retired due to ill health, having sold over 100 million copies and won several Grammys. From a family of Mexican origin, Linda sang rock, blues, country, Latin, and ballads, always with an incredible range. The Last of Us revived one of her biggest hits, Long Long Time, which thrilled fans of the series with a connection to the characters.

As we have seen, when meeting Bill for the first time, Frank immediately grasped the secret he carried in his heart, being an unassuming homosexual, especially when he saw that he had sheet music for Linda’s songs on the piano. Frank tries – very badly – ​​to sing Long Long Time, before Bill, who is only a little better than he is, emotionally sings the lyrics of one of the most beautiful love songs.

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

Although a huge success for over 40 years, Linda Ronstadt was never a songwriter, but she always had impeccable taste in her repertoire and covers. Long Long Time was written for her by Gary White. As he recalled years later, the beginning of her career as a solo artist was not easy for Linda, after a well-received debut album, she wanted something special for 1970’s Silk Purse.

After a show, a friend took her to see Gary play, pointing out that he was a good songwriter and that there was a song of his that would be perfect for her. Suspicious at first, Linda changed her mind immediately when she heard Long Long Time played on acoustic guitar by Gary. It was a sure success. And it was, Long, Long Time became his signature song, spending 12 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and peaking at No. 25.

A perfectionist, Linda was not very fond of her vocals in the original version and said later that the pain of the lyrics and melody also reflected the exhaustion of everyone in the studio. The use of strings, atypical at the time, was also well accepted, bringing, according to the singer, a “moving emotional quality”. She was right, as we saw in The Last of Us. The lyrics fit both Frank and Bill and Joel and Tess. Gorgeous. Exciting. Heart touching.

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