In the world's mighty gallery of pictures hang the scenes that're painted from life
There hang pictures of love and of passion and there's pictures of sorrow and strife
There hang pictures of youth and of beauty of old age and a blushing young bride
But the saddest of all that hang on the wall are the pictures from life's other side
Just a picture from life's other side someone 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 who's watching and waiting alone
Just longing to hear from a loved one so dear it's a picture from life's other side
Now the first scene is that of a gambler who's lost all his money at play
And he reaches down and takes his dead mother's ring from her finger
The one that 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
When they lifted his head they found he was dead
It's just a picture from life's other side
Now the last scene is that by the river of a heartbroken mother and babe
As the harbor lights shine and they shiver on an outcast whom that no one can save
And yet she was once a true woman she was somebody's darling and pride
God help her she leaps for there's no one to weep it's a picture from life's other side