Jeni Hankins & Billy Kemp: Listen & Lyrics
I Saw a Man at the Close of Day
(Jeni & Billy - Click Title for Lyrics)
May 1, 2010
Traditional, © arranged & with additional lyrics by Jeni & Billy
I saw a man at the close of day, standing by a grocery store.
His lips were parched, his eyes were sunk, and I knew him o’er & o’er.
A little boy stood by his side, and unto him he said,
“Father, mother’s sick at home, and sister cries for bread.”
He turned around, walked from that store, staggered on into some bar
and unto the bartend said, “O, pour me one glass more.”
In about a year I passed thereby; a crowd gathered round that door,
I asked the reason, one replied, “The drunkard is no more.”
Just then a hearse rolled slowly by, no wife or children in view.
They’d gone and left this flowered earth and bid fond friends adieu.
Come all ye jolly dram drinkers, from this a lesson take,
and whisky overthrow my friends, before it is too late.