A Picture From Life's Other Side
Woody Guthrie Lyrics


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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

Overall Meaning

Woody Guthrie's "Picture from Life's Other Side" is a poignant song that explores the harsh realities of life through a series of tragic scenes. The lyrics describe a gallery of pictures that depict different aspects of life including youth and beauty, hardship and strife, wealth and poverty, old age, and a blushing young bride. However, the saddest picture of all comes from life's other side, where somebody has fallen by the wayside and a life has gone out with the tide that might have been happy one day.


The first scene depicts two brothers; one lived in luxury and riches while the other went beg for his bread. The brothers eventually met on the highway, where the wealthy brother took his own brother's life. This scene highlights the consequences of greed and the destruction that can come from it.


The next scene takes place by the river, where a heartbroken mother and her baby shiver in the harbor lights. This woman was once somebody's darling and pride, but now she is an outcast with nobody to save her. The song is a reminder that life is not always about happiness, and sometimes we need to be reminded of this fact.


Line by Line Meaning

In the world's mighty gallery of pictures
There are countless images depicting different aspects of life


There's scenes that're painted from life
These pictures are based on real-life experiences and events


Scenes of youth and of beauty
Some pictures portray the innocence and beauty of youthful years


Scenes of hardship and strife
Others depict the pain and struggle of difficult times


Scenes of wealth and of plenty
There are also pictures of luxury and abundance


Old age and a blushing young bride
Pictures can capture the joy of new beginnings or the wisdom of old age


Hang on the wall but the saddest of all
However, the most poignant images are the ones that are not displayed in public


Is the pictures from life's other side
There are certain moments in life that we hide from others, but they still leave a lasting impression on us


A picture from life's other side
This phrase refers to those hidden or forgotten moments that shape our lives


Somebody has fell by the way
These pictures often depict those who have fallen on hard times or met a tragic end


And a life has gone out with the tide
Their life has ended, just like the ebb and flow of the ocean


That might have been happy some day
Perhaps their life could have turned out differently, filled with joy and contentment


There's a poor old mother at home
This picture represents the heartache and loneliness of a mother who has lost her child


She's watching and waiting alone
She remains vigilant, hoping for a sign of her child's return


Longing to hear from a loved one so dear
She desperately wants to hear from her child, who is the most precious person in her life


Just a picture from life's other side
But all she has is a forgotten picture that serves as a painful reminder


Now the first scene is one of two brothers
This picture shows two siblings who took very different paths in life


Who had lost all of his money at play
One brother squandered his wealth through reckless gambling


One lived in luxury and riches
The other brother enjoyed a life of grandeur and fortune


And the other went beg for his bread
While the other was forced to beg for basic sustenance


One night they met on the highway
Their paths cross again, but under much darker circumstances


"Your money or lives, sir," they cried
One brother threatened the other with violence and robbery


Then with his knife took his own brother life
In a moment of brutality, one brother killed the other in cold blood


That's a picture from life's other side
This tragic moment tells the story of how jealousy and greed can lead to unspeakable violence and loss


Now the next scene is that by the river
The next picture depicts a mother and her child, living a hard life on the riverbank


A heartbroken mother and babe
The mother is filled with deep sorrow and grief


In the harbor lights shine and they shiver
The chilly waters and harsh weather make their situation even more difficult


Outcast, soon no one will save
They are outcasts, without support from their community or any hope for rescue


Once she was once a true woman
The mother was once a woman of great worth and dignity


Somebody's darling and pride
She was once cherished and adored by someone special


God help her she leaps, there's no one to weep
In a desperate moment, the mother takes her own life, with no one left to mourn for her


That's a picture from life's other side
This final scene captures the bleakness and hopelessness of a life without support or resources




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JACK ELLIOTT

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@fjlancers

The music has such an eerie, deep quality. Suspenseful and delicate too. Amazing lyrics, so biblical yet western. No music lover can be without this tune far from their heart. It leaves one speechless afterward.

@Weatherbyrd

We all would rather look at those pictures of the "good life", but if you look closely those pictures from life's other side are all around you.  Wish I could re-paint them!  But then sometimes we end up in the picture ourselves.

@oldgrumpbear

This was a popular camp meeting song at the turn of the 19th century. One can almost hear the preacher getting up to and warning of the cost of sin. My grand-dad would sing it as he would walk me home across field when I stayed late at his house to watch Dragnet.

@johnjurkewicz9925

So So, So, beautiful to listening to and I love it

@RDigi

What an awesome song!

@Bazouki2u

I found this song in an old hymnbook(!) once. Spooky song.

@ajweberman

The first scene is one of two brothers Their paths in life differently led One lived in luxury and riches The other sold pot for his bread One day they met on Elizabeth Street It's nice to see you one cried Then with a knife He took A. J.'s life That's a picture from Bob's other side

@lumaz71

Extraordinary...thanks.

@supah1337B

looks like...a Dustbowl painting? am I right? :) Great song.

@MrSprocket2010

fantastic

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