It is the lead single to Wave's fourth studio album Beautiful Mind (2022).

[1] Furthermore, the song contains pitched up vocals and "trunk-rattling" 808s, as Rod reflects on all the success he has achieved in the last year and his progression in the music industry, while also accepting his past.

[2][3] The song contains only one verse, and towards the end of it, Rod references his 2019 track "Cuban Links", on which he raps that he will die wearing Cuban Link jewelry; on "By Your Side" though, he dismisses that notion, as he now prefers luxury brand Richard Mille, and has found a renewed interest in life ("I got inside my bag and got out my feelings").

[1][4] Genius' Ken Partridge opined that "'By Your Side' isn't a love letter to one person; it's a song for anyone who's stuck in their feelings and would like a little company".

[1] The music video accompanied the song's release and shows behind-the-scenes footage of Rod Wave's SoulFly tour.