"When I'm Gone" is a song by American rock band 3 Doors Down. It was released on September 23, 2002, as the lead single from their second album, Away from the Sun. It peaked at number four on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and spent 17 weeks atop the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart from November 2002 to March 2003, becoming one of the longest-running number-one singles on that chart.Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 8th Edition (Billboard Publications), page 633. The song also peaked at number two on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and spent one week atop the Billboard Top 40 Mainstream chart.
Background and meaning "When I'm Gone" was written by Brad Arnold, Matthew Roberts, Todd Harrell and Christopher Henderson. "There are only a few songs we've written on the road and 'When I'm Gone' is the only hit we've written on the road," Todd Harrell said on 3 Doors Down's official website. "We were playing it in Europe and could immediately tell it was something special. From day one, it got the crowd up. I always knew it would do well," Harrell continued.
Brad Arnold wrote the song thinking of unconditional love, for when being removed from loved one by miles, or time, or other obstacles. "When I'm Gone" does not necessarily mean being gone permanently. "It's asking a question, just please love me when I'm gone. And not just like when I'm dead and gone, but when I'm gonna come back. And that's kind of one thing it's about. But at the same time it's kind of about unconditional love. It's a lot of different statements it's asking of the person in that song. And it's like just the fulfillment of those different needs for every situation that it mentions. So I guess that song is just about needing someone really to be there for you unconditionally, and when you're gone," Arnold said of the song.
Music video There are two music videos for the song. The official music video was directed by The Emperor. It features the band performing live on the USS George Washington in the Mediterranean Sea on October 2, 2002.3 Doors Down - When I'm Gone. YouTube. Retrieved on April 11, 2013. Although the lyrics don't have anything to do with the navy or war, the music video was dedicated to all military personnel serving in the United States military.
The original video features the band members in a swamp, being buried alive while playing. It was directed by Marc Klasfeld.
Track listings
Australian CD1 "When I'm Gone" (album version) – 4:20 "Changes" – 3:56 "Living a Lie" – 3:35 "Pop Song" – 3:12
Australian CD2 "When I'm Gone" – 4:20 "Living a Lie" – 3:35 "I Feel You" – 4:07 "When I'm Gone" (video)
Canadian CD single "When I'm Gone" – 4:15 "Living a Lie" – 3:35
European CD single "When I'm Gone" – 4:15 "Changes" – 3:56 "Living a Lie" – 3:35 "Pop Song" – 3:12
Charts
Weekly charts +Chart (2002–2003)PeakpositionCanada (Nielsen SoundScan)10Canada Radio (Nielsen BDS)6Canada Rock (Nielsen BDS)1
+Chart (2026)Peakposition
Year-end charts +Chart (2002)PositionUS Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)77
+Chart (2003)PositionUS Billboard Hot 1005US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)4US Mainstream Rock Tracks (Billboard)3US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)10US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)13
Decade-end charts +Chart (2000–2009)PositionUS Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)11
Certifications
Release history +RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)United StatesSeptember 23, 2002November 18, 2002AustraliaNovember 25, 2002CD1UniversalJune 9, 2003CD2
References