Picture from Life's Other Side

(Hank Williams)



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 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.



The first scene is that of a gambler

Who had lost all his money at play

Needs all 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 he bows his head that his shame he might hide

But 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 no one will 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 just a picture from life's other side...