I saw a man at the close of day
Standing in the grocery door
His eyes were sunk, his lips were parched
And more and more

His little boy stood by his side
And to him he said father
Mother's sick at home
And sister cries for bread

Solo

He turned around, walked through the door
Staggered up to the bar
And unto the landlord said
Just give me one last pour

I passed there by in about a year
And a crowd stood around the door
I asked the reason why they said,
That drunkard is no more

Solo

Just then a hearse drew slowly by
No mother, no children near
He had gone on long before
And left this world of care.

Come all ye jolly dram drinkers
From this a warning take
And quit your overflowing bowl
Before it is too late

Yesterday upon the stair
I saw a man who wasn't there
He wasn't there again today
I wish that man would go away.

from http://www.hotlyrics.net/lyrics/D/Doc_Watson/I_Saw_A_Man_At_The_Close_Of_The_Day.html

Never heard the Doc Watson version, and don't know if he uses that silly-ass last stanza. Except for that, it goes back to G B Grayson's 78 from the late 20s.