Back to the Otherside

Album: Sweet Southern Sugar (2017)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Kid Rock explores the tragedy of suicide during this rap anthem. "It's about young people and all this stuff that's going on, these kids taking their own lives," he explained to Billboard. "I had a cousin who did it. That was so long ago, but just watching so many people around me with this suicide thing, whether it's in the music industry, whether it's soldiers coming back from these God-awful wars, whether it's kids struggling with the bullying thing."

    Rock added: "I think we've all felt like that at some point, where you just felt like, 'This s--t ain't worth it, I'm going to check out.' I just try to tell people, 'Whoa, whoa, whoa! Just hold on a minute. Just give it some time.' S--t gets better."
  • The song includes the line, "God is great and he always forgives." When asked where that line came from, Kid Rock smiled before replying, "It's probably all those years in catechism."
  • Kid Rock incorporates the chorus from New Zealand band Breaks Co-op's "The Otherside" into the song.

    "A lot of us will sit there late at night, drink whatever and search for songs and songwriters from all over the world because we have YouTube," he said. "I came across this band from New Zealand and I was listening to their songs and I was like, 'Oh my gosh! Their harmonies are as good as Crosby, Stills & Nash or anything I've ever heard!'"

    "It had this poignant chorus so rather than just sample it, I had my people call to see if we could get their session tapes," Rock added. "I actually took their vocals and then used a drum machine for a little bit, but for the most part it's a live Nashville band in there playing to my rap and then flying in this chorus from this other band in New Zealand."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Janis Ian

Janis IanSongwriter Interviews

One of the first successful female singer-songwriters, Janis had her first hit in 1967 at age 15.

Lace the Music: How LSD Changed Popular Music

Lace the Music: How LSD Changed Popular MusicSong Writing

Starting in Virginia City, Nevada and rippling out to the Haight-Ashbury, LSD reshaped popular music.

Jimmy Jam

Jimmy JamSongwriter Interviews

The powerhouse producer behind Janet Jackson's hits talks about his Boyz II Men ballads and regrouping The Time.

Dar Williams

Dar WilliamsSongwriter Interviews

A popular contemporary folk singer, Williams still remembers the sticky note that changed her life in college.

Commercials

CommercialsFact or Fiction

Was "Ring Of Fire" really used to sell hemorrhoid cream?

Reverend Horton Heat

Reverend Horton HeatSongwriter Interviews

The Reverend rants on psychobilly and the egghead academics he bashes in one of his more popular songs.