After years of moderate success on the college rock circuit, the Replacements sought a chart hit with "I'll Be You."

In reality, the band made few changes; frontman Paul Westerberg joked, "Lenny couldn't figure out what we'd done to it, but he loved it!

Replacements co-manager Gary Hobbib recalled, "I remember being in some store and the song was playing and a group of little girls were singing along.

"[4] Rolling Stone wrote described the song as "the record's most engaging tune" and characterized it as "a cry of disillusionment, sung with mounting desperation.

"[6] The Austin Chronicle also dubbed the song one of "Paul Westerberg's finest tunes,"[7] while Pitchfork wrote that "'I'll Be You' completely transcends its production and could fight for a spot in an all-time Replacements top 10.