Here I Am (Come and Take Me)


"Here I Am " is a 1973 song by Al Green, the second single released from his album Call Me. The song reached number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number two on the Hot Soul Singles chart. It was certified as a gold record by the Recording Industry Association of America.

Composition and recording

Green wrote "Here I Am " with Teenie Hodges, with whom he also collaborated in writing "Take Me to the River," "Love and Happiness," "Full of Fire," and other songs. It was produced by Willie Mitchell in the 1972 recording session for the album Call Me.

Chart performance

released the song as a single in June 1973, with "I'm Glad You're Mine" on the B-side. It was the second single from Call Me, after the title track. The record received a gold certification, having sold more than 500,000 copies.
ChartsPeak position
U.S. Billboard Hot 10010
U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles2

UB40 version

In 1990, UB40 released "Here I Am " as the second single from their ninth studio album Labour of Love II. It reached only number 46 in the United Kingdom, but proved to be much more successful elsewhere, especially in Australasia. It peaked at number three in Australia, number six in New Zealand, and number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100 in July 1991. In Australia, it placed at number 24 on the 1991 year-end chart, while in the United States, it reached number 72 on the 1991 year-end chart, one position behind the band's previous single "The Way You Do the Things You Do".

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

Other cover versions

The song has also been covered by such performers as Michael Jackson, Etta James, and Seal. Several reggae versions have been recorded, including by Marcia Griffiths, Pluto Shervington, Owen Gray, and Inner Circle.