Discover the story of the song > When I M Gone – 3 Doors Down

The protagonist is singing about a hidden side of himself that no one knows about. He has secrets that he can't hide, but somewhere in the darkness, there is a light that he can't find. He wonders if the light is too far away or if he is just blind to it. The protagonist asks his partner to hold him when he is present, correct him when he is wrong, and love him when he is no longer around. He wants to be the person his partner wants him to be and promises to never let her down. Even if he could, he would give up everything for her sake. He knows that his partner won't always be there for him, so he asks for her love when he is no longer around. The protagonist acknowledges that he may be blind to certain things. He repeats the plea for his partner to hold him, correct him, and love him when he is gone. The song ends with the repetition of the phrase "love me when I'm gone."