I Can’t Be With You (1994) – The Cranberries

Posted on October 9, 2025 by observationblogger — Leave a comment

I Can’t Be With You comes from The Cranberries’ stellar 1994 album No Need to Argue (see image inset). Can we just all go back to the ’90s now? Despite being so young at the time, The Cranberries released so many superb tunes with excellent songwriting and musicianship that still hold up today. The remaining members should feel fortunate they have such great songs left behind and to have that legacy – especially considering their lead singer, the late Dolores O’Riordan, tragically passed away in 2018 from drowning due to alcohol intoxication.

While today’s featured song, I Can’t Be With You, may not be considered top-shelf Cranberries like some of their other tracks presented here including Linger, Dreams & Ode to my Family, I still always enjoy listening to it when it comes on my music player. Despite the melancholic and introspective subject matter, instrumentally it has a nice blend of alternative rock and dream pop elements with jangly guitar riffs and a steady yet upbeat rhythm. And you have that juxtaposed with Dolores O’Riordan’s voice conveying vulnerability and sorrow as she laments the absence of a loved one. The music video below complements the song’s mood with surreal imagery, including O’Riordan in 1920s attire and scenes of desolation, reinforcing the song’s emotional weight.

I can’t get enough of Dolores’ heavy Irish accent, which of course is a defining feature of her vocal style and is so prominent in I Can’t Be With You. Overall, her accent adds authenticity and a unique texture to her singing. It’s said her unapologetic embrace of her regional identity was a significant aspect of her artistry, which set her apart from many of her contemporaries. She even adds quick bursts of yodeling in this song.

I Can’t Be With You was released as the third single from their album – No Need to Argue. The song achieved minor chart success where it was released, peaking at number 21 in their native Ireland and No. 30 in Australia. In Iceland, where I hear there is lots of ice, the song reached number one.

[Verse 1]
Lying in my bed again
And I cry ’cause you’re not here
Crying in my head again
And I know that it’s not clear
Put your hands, put your hands
Inside my face and see that it’s just you
But it’s bad and it’s mad
And it’s making me sad
Because I can’t be with you

[Chorus]
Be with you, be with you
Be with you, be with you
Be with you, be with you
Baby, I can’t be with you

[Verse 2]
Thinking back on how things were
And on how we loved so well
I wanted to be the mother of your child
And now it’s just farewell
Put your hands in my hands
And come with me
We’ll find another end
And my head, and my head
On anyone’s shoulder
‘Cause I can’t be with you

[Chorus]

[Bridge]
‘Cause you’re not here, you’re not here
Baby, I can’t be with you
‘Cause you’re not here, you’re not here
Baby, still in love with you, da-da-da

[Outro]

References:
1. I Can’t Be with You – Wikipedia