By My Side

By My Side

INXS

“By My Side” is a single by Australian band INXS, the third UK single and fourth Australian single taken from their album X. The song is a piano, strings and acoustic guitar-based ballad with a big chorus.

The song was written by Andrew Farriss and Michael Hutchence as part of the 1990 sessions for the X album. Record producer Chris Thomas, who produced the album, is also awarded songwriting credits, specifically contributing to the chorus and arrangement, as explained in the liner notes for the X album special edition in 2002.

“By My Side” peaked at #42 on the UK Singles Chart, which was the band’s poorest chart performance since first breaking into the UK top 40 with “New Sensation” in 1988.

Along with “Never Tear Us Apart”, “By My Side” was one of two INXS songs played at the funeral of frontman Michael Hutchence following his suicide on 22 November 1997.

“By My Side” was used in commercials for Australian insurer NRMA from 2002–2008.

The song also appeared in the final episode of the Moviecity TV series Lynch.

In February 2014, after the Channel 7 screening of “INXS: Never Tear Us Apart” mini-series, “By My Side” charted again in Australia via download sales. It peaked at #67 on the ARIA Singles Chart.