Right By Your Side

The Collingsworth Family's “Right By Your Side” is a gospel song about choosing trust over complaint. The first verse is honest about life not going as planned, and about being tempted to murmur and tell troubles, heartaches, sorrow and pain. Then the singer lifts his eyes and sees hope waiting, and says that the moment he calls on the name of Jesus, he reaches down and takes his hand.

The chorus rests on the character of God. He never slumbers or sleeps, he watches over the soul, and he answers prayer by night or day. Listeners are told to give their troubles and cares to him and not to worry, because it's going to be all right with the Lord right by their side. The second verse is careful not to promise too much. God never said life would be perfect, but he said he would never leave, and that he would take us to the other side if the waters rose. Every storm he will lead us through, so there is no need to sing the blues. The family harmony and the easy tempo give the song a front-porch warmth, and its encouraging tone makes it useful for people facing a hard week who want a plain reminder of whose company they have.

The keeper who never slumbers is Psalm 121:3-4. Casting all anxiety on him is 1 Peter 5:7, and passing through waters with him is Isaiah 43:2.