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 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 she's watching and waiting alone

Just longing to hear from a loved one so dear just a picture from life's other side

Now the first scene is that of a gambler who's lost all of his money at play

And he drowses dead mother's ring from her finger

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

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 babe

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 but there's no one to weep it's a picture from life's other side