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]
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]
