In the world's mighty gallery of pictures Hang the scenes that're painted from life There's pictures of love and of passion And there's pictures of keys and of strife
There hung pictures of youth and of beauty Of old age and a blushing young bride They all hung on the wall but the saddest of all Are the pictures from life's other side
Just a picture from life's other side Somebody has fell by the way A life has gone out with the tide That might have been happy some day
There's a poor old mother at home She's watching and waiting alone Just longing to hear from a loved one so dear Just a picture from life's other side
The first scene is that of a gambler Who had lost all of his money at play And he drowses dead mother's ring from his finger Which she wore long ago on her wedding day
It's his last earthly treasure but he stakes it Then bows his head that his shame he might hide But when they lifted his head they found he was dead That's just a picture from life's other side
Now the last scene is that by the river Of a heartbroken mother and baby As the harbor lights shine and they shiver On an outcast, soon no one will save
And yet she was once a true woman She was somebody's darling and pride God help her she leaps, oh there's no one to weep It's just a picture from life's other side.