You know that feeling when a song just hits different? Not because the melody is catchy—though it usually is with him—but because you can tell the artist is bleeding through the lyrics. That is exactly what happened with Colton Dixon On the Other Side.
Most people remember Colton from his American Idol days, sporting that signature blonde hawk and a piano-driven rock sound that felt way more "real" than your typical reality TV contestant. But while his career has been a string of hits, "The Other Side" isn't just another track on a playlist. It is arguably the most personal thing he has ever put on paper.
Honestly, it’s a song about the kind of grief that doesn't just go away. It’s about the "see you later" instead of the "goodbye."
The Tragedy That Sparked the Song
Let’s get into the actual story here. When Colton met his wife, Annie, her family was walking through a nightmare. Just a few months before they met, Annie’s brother, Dylan, passed away.
Think about that for a second. You’re entering a new relationship, everything is supposed to be "honeymoon phase" and lighthearted, but you’re sitting across from a family that is grieving a massive loss. But Colton noticed something weird. Well, not weird, but surprising. They had this incredible joy.
He’s gone on record saying you wouldn't have even known they’d just been through a tragedy unless they told you. They weren't ignoring the pain—they just had this rock-solid perspective that Dylan wasn't gone gone. He was just... somewhere else.
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That’s where the hook comes from. "Run up ahead and I will catch up." It’s such a simple line, right? But for anyone who has stood at a casket, it’s heavy.
Why the Music Video is Hard to Watch (In a Good Way)
If you haven't seen the video, grab some tissues. Seriously.
Colton didn't just hire actors to look sad. He brought in Annie and her family to tell their own story. But he went a step further. The video also features the family of a young fan named Lexi who had passed away.
Seeing real families standing in the places where they actually mourned—it adds a layer of E-E-A-T (Expertise, Experience, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) to the art. You aren't just listening to a singer; you’re witnessing a community of people navigating a "broken-heart" reality.
A Different Kind of Christian Radio Hit
Usually, CCM (Contemporary Christian Music) stays in a very specific lane. It’s either "God is great" or "I was lost, now I'm found." Colton Dixon On the Other Side takes a bit of a detour into the "middle" part of the story. The part where it still hurts.
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- The Scriptural Root: Colton pointed toward 1 Thessalonians 4:13. It basically says don't grieve like people who have no hope.
- The Sound: Musically, it’s a bit of a departure. It’s got a 3/4 time signature—that waltz feel—which gives it this haunting, circular movement.
- The Message: Death doesn't get the final word.
Some critics at the time thought it was too "dark" for a lead single, but the fan response proved them wrong. People don't want "fake happy" when their lives are falling apart. They want someone to sit in the dirt with them.
Common Misconceptions About "The Other Side"
I’ve seen some theories online that this song was written about his daughters. That’s actually a timeline error. While Colton and Annie did have a terrifying experience when their daughter Dior was born without a pulse in 2020 (a literal miracle story in its own right), "The Other Side" was released years earlier on the Identity album in 2017.
It’s also not just a "funeral song." While it gets played at plenty of them, Colton has mentioned in interviews that it’s about perspective for the living. It’s a song for the person who is struggling to get out of bed because the chair across from them is empty.
How it Ranks in Colton’s Discography
If you look at the numbers, songs like "Build a Boat" or "Miracles" might have more radio play in the current 2026 landscape, but "The Other Side" remains the "fan favorite" for the deep-cut listeners. It’s the song people bring up during meet-and-greets because it helped them through a specific loss.
What You Can Take Away From It
Honestly, whether you're religious or not, there's a psychological benefit to the "the other side" mindset. It’s about the refusal to let a permanent loss have a permanent grip on your joy.
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If you’re struggling with loss right now, here is the "actionable" part of Colton’s message:
- Acknowledge the gap. The song doesn't pretend it isn't hard to say goodbye. It says "it isn't easy." Give yourself permission to feel that.
- Change the terminology. The "run up ahead" phrasing is a mental shift. It turns a wall into a doorway.
- Lean on community. Just like Colton brought two families together for the video, grief shouldn't be a solo sport.
Colton Dixon On the Other Side isn't just a track on an old album. It's a reminder that even when the preacher says life goes too fast, there is a version of the story where we all meet up again.
If you want to dive deeper into Colton's more recent work, his 2023-2024 era shows a lot of this same "crazy faith" theme, particularly how he navigated the birth of his twins and his continued evolution from the Idol stage to a mainstay in the industry.
To truly appreciate the song, watch the official music video with the volume up and the lights down. Pay attention to the eyes of the families involved—that’s not acting, that’s real hope. You can also find the "Behind the Song" interviews on platforms like K-LOVE or WayFM where he breaks down the specific conversations he had with Annie’s parents during the writing process.