Linda Ronstadt – First Cut is the Deepest

About The Song

“The First Cut Is the Deepest” exists in Linda Ronstadt’s catalog solely as a live performance captured on November 9, 1973, during ABC’s In Concert television special (also known as “The Moon and Stars Concert”) that featured Cat Stevens as the headliner. Ronstadt appeared as a guest and delivered a stripped-down, emotionally charged acoustic rendition backed by her band, running approximately 3:30.
Written by Cat Stevens (then 18 years old) in 1965, the song was first released by P.P. Arnold in 1967 and became a UK hit. Ronstadt’s version arrived at the peak of her early country-rock phase, between her Capitol and Asylum eras. She chose the track for the special after hearing Stevens’ own recording and reportedly considered cutting it in the studio, but it remained a one-off television moment.
The lyrics explore the lingering pain of first heartbreak: “The first cut is the deepest / Baby, I know / The first cut is the deepest / But it’ll get better / It’ll get better.” The narrator reflects on a fresh wound that refuses to heal, admitting vulnerability while offering cautious hope that time will ease the ache. Ronstadt’s delivery—raw, intimate, and slightly husky—brought a country-soul edge to Stevens’ folk-pop original, with her band adding gentle acoustic guitar and light harmonies that highlighted the song’s emotional core without overpowering it.
Though never charted or commercially available, the performance gained mythic status among fans. Viewers and later commentators often call it one of Ronstadt’s most powerful one-night-only interpretations, rivaling P.P. Arnold’s original in emotional honesty. Bootleg recordings and online clips have kept it alive for decades, with many noting the regret that no studio take exists. In interviews and fan forums, it is frequently cited as a “lost classic” that showcased Ronstadt’s interpretive range at a pivotal career moment.

Video

Lyric

I would have given you all of my heart
But there’s someone who’s torn it apart
And he’s taking almost all that I’ve got
But if you want, I’ll try to love again
Baby, I’ll try to love again but I know

The first cut is the deepest, baby I know
The first cut is the deepest
‘Cause when it comes to being lucky, I’m cursed
When it comes to loving me, he’s the worst
But when it comes to being loved, I’m the first
That’s how I know

The first cut is the deepest, baby I know
The first cut is the deepest
I still want you by my side
Just to help me dry the tears that I’ve cried
‘Cause I’m sure gonna give you a try
And if you want, I’ll try to love again
Baby, I’ll try to love again, but I know

The first cut is the deepest, baby I know
The first cut is the deepest
‘Cause when it comes to being lucky, I’m cursed
When it comes to loving me, he’s the worst
But when it comes to being loved, I’m the first
That’s how I know
The first cut is the deepest, baby I know
The first cut is the deepest

Source: https://muzikum.eu/en/linda-ronstadt/first-cut-is-the-deepest-lyrics