I Can't Be with You

In today's world, I Can't Be with You has gained great relevance in different aspects of life. Whether on a personal, professional or social level, I Can't Be with You plays a crucial role in decision making and the way we face daily challenges. For a long time, I Can't Be with You has been the subject of study and analysis by experts in various disciplines, who seek to better understand its impact on society. In this article, we will explore different aspects related to I Can't Be with You, from its evolution over time to its influence on modern life. We will also analyze its importance in individual and collective development, as well as the possible implications it has for the future.

"I Can't Be with You"
Single by the Cranberries
from the album No Need to Argue
B-side"(They Long to Be) Close to You"
Released27 February 1995 (1995-02-27)
Length3:08
LabelIsland
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Stephen Street
The Cranberries singles chronology
"Ode to My Family"
(1994) 		"I Can't Be with You"
(1995) 		"Ridiculous Thoughts"
(1995)
Audio sample
"I Can't Be with You"
Music video
"I Can't Be With You" on YouTube

"I Can't Be with You" is a song by Irish rock band the Cranberries. It was released by Island Records as the third single from their second studio album, No Need to Argue (1994), except in North America, where it was released as the fourth and final single of the album. The song achieved minor chart success in most of the European countries where it was released, peaking at number 21 in their native Ireland. In Iceland, the song reached number one for a week in April 1995, becoming the Cranberries' third consecutive number-one single there. Its music video was directed by Samuel Bayer.

Critical reception

Chuck Campbell from Knoxville News Sentinel named 'I Can't Be with You' "a mundane pining-away song".[1] In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton complimented it as "another epic single" from the Cranberries, adding that O'Riordan's yodelling "sounds as hauntingly lovely as ever".[2] Johnny Cigarettes from NME wrote, "Twanging guitars, meandering minor chords, quick burst of yodelling, two indifferent choruses and you're left with an embarrassing mess on the floor."[3] Tony Cross from Smash Hits gave it four out of five and named it "the best pop song" of the album, saying, "Their most complete song since 'Linger', 'I Can't Be with You' is a crackling anthem about the pain of lost love. Like a West of Ireland coastline, it's raw yet beautiful, powerful yet delicate... And it's great to freak out to, so, er, just buy it."[4]

Music video

The accompanying music video to "I Can't Be with You" was directed by Samuel Bayer who was also the director of several of the band's other hit singles: "Zombie", "Ode to My Family", and "Ridiculous Thoughts". The video shows lead singer Dolores O'Riordan wearing 1920s clothing, kneeling beside a bed and bathing a child in a small bathtub. She then appears walking through desolate buildings and streets with a wooden torch with an old man dressed as an angel often lurking in the background. Throughout the video the band is seen playing in grassland while wearing red suits. At the end of the video, the old man returns to the location where he was seen at the beginning of the clip. Parts of the video was filmed at Copped Hall in Epping.[5]

Track listings

  • 7-inch single
  1. "I Can't Be with You"
  2. "(They Long to Be) Close to You" (Burt Bacharach, Hal David)
  • CD single
  1. "I Can't Be with You"
  2. "(They Long to Be) Close to You"
  3. "Empty" (live on BBC Radio One FM Evening Session, 26 September 1994)
  • Limited-edition CD single
  1. "I Can't Be with You" (live on BBC Radio One FM Evening Session, 26 September 1994)
  2. "Zombie" (acoustic)
  3. "Daffodil Lament" (live at Feile, Tipperary, 30 July 1994)
  • Australian CD single (cardboard sleeve)
  1. "I Can't Be with You"
  2. "Empty" (live on BBC Radio One FM Evening Session, 26 September 1994)
  3. "I Can't Be with You" (live on BBC Radio One FM Evening Session, 26 September 1994)

Charts

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United Kingdom 27 February 1995
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • CD1
  • cassette
 Island [17]
Japan 5 March 1995 Mini-CD [18]
United Kingdom 6 March 1995 CD2 [19]

References

  1. ^ Campbell, Chuck (28 October 1994). "Bedtime' With Madonna Is A Bit Drowsy". Knoxville News Sentinel.
  2. ^ Masterton, James (5 March 1995). "Week Ending March 11th 1995". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
  3. ^ Cigarettes, Johnny (18 February 1995). "Singles". NME. p. 52. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  4. ^ Cross, Tony (15 February 1995). "New Singles". Smash Hits. p. 49. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
  5. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: The Cranberries - I Can't Be With You (Official Music Video). YouTube.
  6. ^ "The Cranberries – I Can't Be with You". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  7. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 12. 25 March 1995. p. 15. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  8. ^ "The Cranberries – I Can't Be with You" (in French). Le classement de singles.
  9. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (1.4. '95 – 7.4. '95)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 1 April 1995. p. 24. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  10. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – I Can't Be with You". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  11. ^ "The Cranberries – I Can't Be with You" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  12. ^ "The Cranberries – I Can't Be with You" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  13. ^ "The Cranberries – I Can't Be with You". Top 40 Singles.
  14. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  15. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  16. ^ "Árslistinn 1995". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 2 January 1996. p. 16. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  17. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 25 February 1995. p. 43. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  18. ^ "アイ・キャント・ビー・ウィズ・ユー | ザ・クランベリーズ" [I Can't Be with You | The Cranberries] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  19. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 4 March 1995. p. 31.