As I Am
by Justin Bieber (featuring Khalid)

Album: Justice (2021)
Charted: 24 43
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This heart-on-sleeve pop song finds Justin Bieber admitting to being a difficult person to live with because at times he acts selfishly. He pays tribute to his wife Hailey as he sings of his wonder of her selfless love for him.
  • In the first verse the Biebs recounts how he sometimes takes some "me" time away from his wife as a coping mechanism.

    By myself sometimes, to give my mind some space
    Yeah, I know, yeah, I know that it hurts when I push your love away


    Bieber hates himself for hurting Hailey when he does this. He tells her if she's willing to accept him, warts and all, then he'll commit himself to being his best version of himself.

    Take me with the good and the ugly
    Say, "I'm not goin' anywhere"
    Take me as I am, swear I'll do the best I can
  • Bieber told Vogue he loves this song's hopeful message. "A lot of us, including me at times, have felt unworthy of love and so [the hook] is saying, 'Take me as I am and I'll do the best that I can.' It's that commitment that I personally made to my wife," he explained. "I'm here through thick and thin - this is me, take it or leave it."
  • "As I Am" is one of several vulnerable love songs on Justice where Bieber links up with a guest artist. Others include "Die for You" (Dominic Fike), "Love You Different" (BEAM) and "Loved by You" (Burna Boy).
  • Bieber and Khalid teamed up with The Monsters & Strangerz to pen the song. The Miami production and songwriting team also contributed to the Justice tracks "Anyone," "Ghost" and "Love You Different."

Comments: 1

  • Audie from ColoradoI LoVe JuStIn BeIBeR
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Stand By Me: The Perfect Song-Movie Combination

Stand By Me: The Perfect Song-Movie CombinationSong Writing

In 1986, a Stephen King novella was made into a movie, with a classic song serving as title, soundtrack and tone.

Modern A Cappella with Peder Karlsson of The Real Group

Modern A Cappella with Peder Karlsson of The Real GroupSong Writing

The leader of the Modern A Cappella movement talks about the genre.

Jeff Trott

Jeff TrottSongwriter Interviews

Sheryl Crow's longtime songwriting partner/guitarist Jeff Trott reveals the stories behind many of the singer's hits, and what its like to be a producer for Leighton Meester and Max Gomez.

Michael Schenker

Michael SchenkerSongwriter Interviews

The Scorpions and UFO guitarist is also a very prolific songwriter - he explains how he writes with his various groups, and why he was so keen to get out of Germany and into England.

Loudon Wainwright III

Loudon Wainwright IIISongwriter Interviews

"Dead Skunk" became a stinker for Loudon when he felt pressure to make another hit - his latest songs deal with mortality, his son Rufus, and picking up poop.

Little Big Town

Little Big TownSongwriter Interviews

"When seeds that you sow grow by the wicked moon/Be sure your sins will find you out/Your past will hunt you down and turn to tell on you."