Dominic Vautier
updated 1/2015
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My Gal Sal was the swan song of
one of the best-known writers of Tin Pan Alley. Paul Dresser had come to New York in 1886, and soon had made his mark on
the music industry with On
the Banks on the Wabash. By
1905, Dresser was down on his luck, poor, and in failing health. Still, Paul Dresser took one last shot at fame and fortune.
Recently he had fallen in love with a girl named Sally and wrote a song about her. He waived a copy of this brand new hot melody in front of one of his friends and said sadly, “Here is a song that should sell a million copies, but I don’t have a dime to push it with.” He died the next day, probably of a heart attack, but Tin Pan Alley forever maintained the legend that he died of a broken heart.
Send all Your troubles,
sorrows, and care.
She was always willing to share.
A mild sort of devil, but dead on the level,
Was my gal Sal.
In his last song Paul Dresser finally found the girl of his dreams.