Here I Am (Come and Take Me)

"Here I Am (Come and Take Me)" 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.

"Here I Am (Come and Take Me)"
Single by Al Green
from the album Call Me
B-side"I'm Glad You're Mine"
ReleasedJune 1973
Recorded1972
GenreSoul
Length4:14
LabelHi Records
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Willie Mitchell
Al Green singles chronology
"Call Me (Come Back Home)"
(1973)
"Here I Am (Come and Take Me)"
(1973)
"Livin' for You"
(1973)

Composition and recording

Green wrote "Here I Am (Come and Take Me)" 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

Hi Records 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 reached number 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and received a gold certification, having sold more than 500,000 copies.[1][2]

Year-end charts

Chart (1973)Position
US Billboard Hot 100[5]63

Certifications

RegionCertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[2]Gold1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

UB40 version

"Here I Am (Come and Take Me)"
Single by UB40
from the album Labour of Love II
B-side"Crisis"
ReleasedJanuary 1990 (1990-01)
Length4:00
LabelVirgin
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)UB40
UB40 singles chronology
"The Way You Do the Things You Do"
(1990)
"Here I Am (Come and Take Me)"
(1990)
"Impossible Love"
(1991)

In 1990, British reggae-pop band UB40 released a cover of "Here I Am (Come and Take Me)" as the second single from their ninth studio album, Labour of Love II. It stalled at number 46 on the UK Singles Chart but proved to be more successful elsewhere, peaking at number three in Australia, number six in New Zealand, and number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100. In Australia, it placed at number 24 on the 1991 year-end chart, while in the United States, it was ranked number 72 on the 1991 year-end chart.

Charts

Year-end charts

Chart (1990)Position
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[19]75
Chart (1991)Position
Australia (ARIA)[20]24
US Billboard Hot 100[21]72

Certifications

RegionCertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[20]Gold35,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

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.[22]

References