"West Side" (stylized in all lowercase; originally tilted "West Side Shawty" or "Wess") is the tenth track from Ariana Grande's sixth studio album, Positions. It was released on October 30, 2020, through Republic Records.
Background[]
This song takes heavy influence from early-2000's R&B with its heavy kicks, hollow snare shots, and sparse shakers. Crickets can be heard in the background of the track, drawing comparisons to "One in a Million" by Aaliyah.
Lyrically, the song tackles devotion and marriage. Ariana is yearning for her relationship to take that extra step, pleading "just let me be in your life like that". Throughout the song, she expresses that she doesn't want anybody else in her life.
The full session leaked on January 22, 2024, alongside many other sessions. An early bounce of the song, titled "West Side Shawty", contains a completely different second verse, as well as the alternate lyric "meet me on the west side, shawty", as opposed to the released version. The demo also contains extra harmonies and adlibs that were omitted from the final version. This version led the song to gain more presence on TikTok, as it wasn't copyrighted by UMG during their blackout from the app.
Audios[]
Chart performance[]
"west side" debuted at #71 on the Billboard Hot 100 during the chart week of November 14, 2020.[1]
Cross-references[]
- The line "I'll bring the light right back" is a direct reference to "the light is coming".
Trivia[]
- "west side" is the shortest song on the standard edition of Positions, at two minutes, 12 seconds.
- The drum kits used on "west side" and "Girl is Mine" are identical.
- "west side" was previously saved under three different names according to its ProTools history: "Kalua", "Wess", and "Wst Side Shawty". It's unknown as to whether any of these were actual working titles for the songs.
- "Wst Side Shawty" was saved without the "e" in west. Whether this was a typo or not is unknown.
- An early version of the instrumental was spelt as "Kailua" instead of "Kalua".
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1]
I don't wanna think too much
I just wanna feel
You know that it ain't no rush
Let me keep it real
[Pre-Chorus]
Just let me be in your life like that
In your life like that
I'll bring the light right back
I'll bring the life right back
I'm gonna make you want more (More)
I'm gonna be your new favorite
Tell 'em you closing the door
I am the only for sure
Oh, babe
[Chorus]
Hold up, there shouldn't be no hold up
There's more love if you follow emotions
Show up, now if you're down, roll up
Meet me on the west side for me
Hold up, there shouldn't be no hold up
There's more love if you follow emotions
Show up, now if you're down, roll up
Meet me
[Verse 2]
I don't want it if it ain't your touch
It's better every time we chill
You ain't gotta bring no stuff
We got all we need right here
[Pre-Chorus]
Just let me be in your life like that
Be your wife like that
I'll bring the light right back
I'll bring the life right back
I'm gonna make you want more (More)
I'm gonna be your new favorite
Tell 'em you closing the door
I am the only for sure, baby
Oh, babe, yeah
[Chorus]
Hold up, there shouldn't be no hold up (Hold up)
There's more love if you follow emotions (Emotions)
Show up, now if you're down, roll up (Roll up)
Meet me on the west side for me
Hold up, there shouldn't be no hold up
There's more love if you follow emotions
Show up, now if you're down, roll up
Meet me on the west side by me
[Outro]
Mmm
[Verse 1]
I don't wanna think too much
I just wanna feel
You know that it ain't no rush
Let me keep it real
[Pre-Chorus]
Just let me be in your life like that
In your life like that
I'll bring the light right back
I'll bring the life right back
I'm gonna make you want more (More)
I'm gonna be your new favorite
Tell 'em you closing the door
I am the only for sure
Oh, babe
[Chorus]
Hold up, there shouldn't be no hold up
There's more love if you follow emotions
Show up, now if you're down, roll up
Meet me on the west side shawty
Hold up, there shouldn't be no hold up
There's more love if you follow emotions
Show up, now if you're down, roll up
Meet me on the west side shawty
[Pre-Chorus]
Oh, oh yeah
Need you like
I need to breathe
Need your light, the medicine, the remedy
I take it twice a day, you when I'm underneath
Just to take it to see ya
I'm gonna make you want more (More)
I'm gonna be your new favorite
Tell 'em you closing the door
I am the only for sure
Oh, babe
[Chorus]
Hold up, there shouldn't be no hold up
There's more love if you follow emotions
Show up, now if you're down, roll up
Meet me on the west side shawty
Hold up, there shouldn't be no hold up
There's more love if you follow emotions
Show up, now if you're down, roll up
Meet me on the west side shawty
[Outro]
Mmm