here was I / I was

[Mnemon]

Here was I thinking you were a complete asshole.

Morbius movie

Here I was ...
Here was I ....

Both equally accurate?

 

[teechar]

Are both equally accurate?

Either version is acceptable. The inversion in the above is optional.

 

[PaulMatthews]

Morbius movie

[1] Here I was ...
[2] Here was I ....

Both equally accurate?

As teechar confirms, both are possible.

In this kind of construction "here" is largely bleached of its locative meaning.

[1] is the basic version with the subject in its usual pre-verbal position.

In [2] the inversion serves as a stylistic device for presenting a personal narrative in a vivid way.

 

[Skrej]

Only the first version works in AmE.

 

[teechar]

Only the first version works in AmE.

That's very interesting. I wonder if other AmE speakers can confirm that.