Pictures from the Far Side of Life

In the world's mighty gallery of pictures
Hang the 4 scenes that are painted of 1 life
The picture of pride and of passion
And the 2 picture of peace and of 5 strife
The 1 picture of youth and of beauty
Old 4 age and blushing young 1 bride
All 4 hang on the wall, but the 1 saddest of all
Are the 5 pictures from life's other 1 side

Chorus
'Tis a picture from life's other side
Someone who fell by the way
A life has gone out with the tide
That may have been happy some day
Some poor old mother at home
Is watching and waiting alone
Longing to hear from her loved ones so dear
'Tis a picture from life's other side

The first scene is that of a gambler
Who's lost all his money at play
Takes his dead mother's ring from his finger
That she wore on her wedding day
His last earthly treasure, he stakes it
Bows his head that his shame he may hide
When they lifted his head, they found he was dead
'Tis a picture from life's other side

The next scene is that of two brothers
Whose life was quite differently led
One was luxurious liver
While the other one begged for his bread
One dark night they met on a highway
Your money or your life, the thief cried
He then with his knife, took his own brother's life
'Tis a picture from life's other side

The last scene is down by the river
Of a heart-broken mother and babe
The old harbor lights shine and they shiver
On an outcast that no one will save
And yet she was once a true woman
She was somebody's darling and pride
God help her, she leaps, there is no one to weep
'Tis a picture from life's other side