3 Doors Down – When I'm Gone Lyrics - Genius

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2025, In ReviewFeaturedChartsVideosPromote Your MusicSign Up18Cover art for When I’m Gone by 3 Doors DownWhen I’m Gone3 Doors DownProducerRick ParasharTrack 10 onSummer Of ’99 Oct. 21, 20021 viewer158.6K views27 Contributors

When I’m Gone Lyrics

3 Doors Down are not one hit wonders. There was a period during the early 2000’s when they ruled the airwaves, and “When I’m Gone” is living proof. It shot to number 4 on the US Billboard 100, on the back of… Read More [Verse 1]There's another world inside of me that you may never seeThere's secrets in this life that I can't hideBut somewhere in this darknessThere's a light that I can't findWell maybe it's too far away, yeahOr maybe I'm just blindOr maybe I'm just blind[Chorus]So hold me when I'm here, right me when I'm wrongHold me when I'm scared and love me when I'm goneEverything I am and everything in meWants to be the one you wanted me to beI'll never let you down even if I couldI'd give up everything if only for your goodSo hold me when I'm here, right me when I'm wrongYou can hold me when I'm scaredYou won't always be thereSo love me when I'm goneLove me when I'm gone[Verse 2]When your education X-ray cannot see under my skinI won't tell you a damn thing that I could not tell my friendsRoaming through this darkness, I'm alive, but I'm aloneAnd part of me is fighting this, but part of me is goneYou might also like[Chorus]So hold me when I'm here, right me when I'm wrongHold me when I'm scared and love me when I'm goneEverything I am and everything in meWants to be the one you wanted me to beI'll never let you down even if I couldI'd give up everything if only for your goodSo hold me when I'm here, right me when I'm wrongYou can hold me when I'm scaredYou won't always be thereSo love me when I'm goneLove me when I'm gone[Refrain]Or maybe I'm just blind[Chorus]So hold me when I'm here, right me when I'm wrongHold me when I'm scared and love me when I'm goneEverything I am and everything in meWants to be the one you wanted me to beI'll never let you down even if I couldI'd give up everything if only for your goodSo hold me when I'm here, right me when I'm wrongYou can hold me when I'm scaredYou won't always be thereSo love me when I'm goneLove me when I'm gone[Outro]Love me when I'm goneWhen I'm goneWhen I'm goneWhen I'm gone18EmbedCancel

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AboutSong Bio1 contributor

3 Doors Down are not one hit wonders. There was a period during the early 2000’s when they ruled the airwaves, and “When I’m Gone” is living proof. It shot to number 4 on the US Billboard 100, on the back of a music video shot during a live performance on the war ship U.S.S. George Washington in 2002. Maybe the patriotism of the performance helped.

The song can easily be viewed with the military in mind. As US soldiers spend long months overseas, the chorus of “So hold me when I’m here…. And love me when I’m gone” is significant; a plea for partners left back home to never forget their brave heroes fighting on foreign soil.

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Ask a questionIs there a live performance of "When I'm Gone" by 3 Doors Down?Genius Answer1 contributor Tonight Show with Jay Leno (2002) The Song (2025) +1Who produced “When I'm Gone” by 3 Doors Down?When did 3 Doors Down release “When I'm Gone”?Who wrote “When I'm Gone” by 3 Doors Down?Summer Of ’99 (2024)Creed, 3 Doors Down & Finger Eleven
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  2. 2. Kryptonite
  3. 3. Paralyzer
  4. 4. With Arms Wide Open
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  6. 6. One Thing
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  8. 8. It’s Not My Time
  9. 9. What’s This Life For
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  13. 13. Let Me Go
  14. 14. Slow Chemical
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  17. 17. Living in a Dream
  18. 18. My Sacrifice
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Away from the Sun (2002)3 Doors DownThe Greatest Hits (2012)3 Doors DownNOW That’s What I Call Music! 12 [US] (2003)NOW That’s What I Call Music!School’s Out (2003)Various ArtistsBand Hero Soundtrack (2009)ActivisionDivorced Dad Rock (2025)Various ArtistsUniversal Sommar 2003 Sampler (2003)Various ArtistsExpand CreditsProducerRick ParasharWritersBrad Arnold, Matt Roberts, Todd Harrell & Chris HendersonVocalsBrad ArnoldGuitarMatt Roberts & Chris HendersonBass GuitarTodd HarrellDrumsJosh FreeseHammond B-3 OrganRick HopkinsPercussionMatthew BurgessDigital Audio EditorGeoff Ott, Rick Parashar & Dean MaherRecording EngineerRick Parashar & Geoff OttAssistant Recording EngineerNonchol Sin, Gordon Sran & Latif TayourMixing EngineerRandy Staub & Dean MaherAssistant Mixing EngineerZach BlackstoneMastering EngineerTed JensenReleased onOctober 21, 2002When I’m Gone CoversWhen I'm Gone by KIDZ BOP Kids & When I'm Gone by Vitamin String QuartetTagsRockUSAIn EnglishAlternativeAlternative RockHard RockPost-GrungeExpand CommentsAdd a commentSign Up And Drop Knowledge 🤓Genius is the ultimate source of music knowledge, created by scholars like you who share facts and insight about the songs and artists they love.Sign Up

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