"Picture From Life's Other Side" lyrics - RAMBLIN' JACK ELLIOTT

In the world's mighty gallery of pictures
There's scenes that're painted from life
Scenes of youth and of beauty
Scenes of hardship and strife

Scenes of wealth and of plenty
Old age and a blushing young bride
Hang on the wall but the saddest of all
Is the pictures from life's other side

A picture from life's other side
Somebody has fell by the way
And 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
Longing to hear from a loved one so dear
Just a picture from life's other side

Now the first scene is one of two brothers
Who had lost all of his money at play
One lived in luxury and riches
And the other went beg for his bread

One night they met on the highway
"Your money or lives, sir," they cried
Then with his knife took his own brother life
That's a picture from life's other side

Now the next scene is that by the river
A heartbroken mother and babe
In the harbor lights shine and they shiver
Outcast, soon no one will save

Once she was once a true woman
Somebody's darling and pride
God help her she leaps, there's no one to weep
That's a picture from life's other side

That's a picture from life's other side
Somebody has fell by the way
And a life has gone out with the tide
That might have been happy some day

Some poor mother at home
Watching and waiting alone
Longing to hear from a loved one so dear
That's a picture from life's other side