"[5] Alma said she wrote the track for herself originally, but felt that its "empowering message" might better suit another vocalist, and that Lohan reached out to work with her after hearing it "through a mutual friend."

"[14][15] Lyrically, the track explores themes of "renewal and resilience," that "spill into a clubby hook",[16] as well as "leaving the past behind for a shot at self-discovery, and part of that journey means not running away when the going gets tough.

"[17] Marissa Matozzo of Paper said the lyrics find Lohan "reclaiming her identity in the face of great challenges" and the "breezy pop song represents a recovering tabloid queen who appears to have finally found her center.

"[6] Bradley Stern of MuuMuse considered it lyrically "picks up right where the same girl behind cuts" such as "Rumors", "Confessions of a Broken Heart (Daughter to Father)", "My Innocence" and "Fastlane" left off.

"[19] Lohan asserted that the song's message is "really about just moving forward in a positive direction and not giving in to all the judgment that we put on ourselves, that people place on us" and not allowing the negativity "to come in front of you [...] and being happy and healthy.

Billboard called the song a "chill track with an upbeat club vibe" and highlighted its lyrics for Lohan confronting her difficult years growing up in the public eye, and how she's become stronger from the experience.

[20] The same publication ranked it as one of Lohan's most essential songs to date, with Bianca Gracie labeling it a "party-ready jam" and saying "the combination of self-aware lyricism and thumping dance production is worthy of an addition to the “Crying In The Club Anthems” Hall of Fame,"[12] while Jason Lipshutz also reviewed the track and wondered "if the actress/tabloid fixture has too much cultural baggage to successfully relaunch her music career," continuing, "But then the song's main hook hits, and all preconceived concerns melt away.

Lipshutz concluded, "Lohan's best-case scenario was returning with a song with this sort of bulletproof hook, and by the end of "Back To Me," you'll be hitting the replay button and rooting for her.

"[22] While writing about the song for Vanity Fair, Dan Adler considered that Lohan's return and "its portal back into her winding career—or into the mid-2000s more generally—is one of the more enveloping possibilities" for those looking for distraction amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic crisis.