Here I Am (Come and Take Me)

"Here I Am (Come and Take Me)"
Single by Al Green
from the album Call Me
B-side "I'm Glad You're Mine"
Released June 1973
Recorded 1972
Genre Soul
Length 4:14
Label Hi 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)

"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.

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.

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) Gold 1,000,000^

^ 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"
Released January 1990
Length 4:00
Label Virgin
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 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 was ranked number 72 on the 1991 year-end chart.

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) Gold 35,000^

^ 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.