"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. A 1990 cover by British reggae-pop band UB40 reached number seven on the Billboard Hot 100.
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.
Weekly charts Chart (1973)Peakposition
Year-end charts Chart (1973)PositionUS Billboard Hot 10063
Certifications
UB40 version
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, in January 1990. 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 Weekly charts Chart (1990–1991)PeakpositionEurope (Eurochart Hot 100)73
Year-end charts Chart (1990)PositionNetherlands (Dutch Top 40)75Chart (1991)PositionAustralia (ARIA)24US Billboard Hot 10072
Certifications
Release history RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)United KingdomJanuary 15, 1990DEP InternationalAustraliaMarch 19, 1990Australia (re-release)July 29, 1991Virgin
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.
References