Ramblin' Jack Elliott - Picture From Life's Other Side lyrics

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