On July 22, 2011, Knowles spoke with Reuters on the development of "I Was Here". She revealed that the song was inspired by the September 11 attacks, stating "I got a call from Diane and she played the song on guitar over the phone, and I said, 'Oh my god, I have to have this song.' It was inspired by September 11. It's the tenth anniversary and I thought, 'Wow, this really completes my album.'"
