°- My Gal Sal (1905)

[Spoken Word introduction] Back in the late 1800s, along the Ohio River in Evansville, Indiana, lived a woman people didn’t talk about openly—but never really forgot. She was known as Sallie Walker. Her real name was Annie Swanner, and she ran one of the more upscale houses in the red light district. In a world most people kept at arm’s length, Sallie had carved out a life where she was not only successful—but respected for being fair, dependable, and generous. Sometime in the early 1880s, she and a young songwriter named Paul Dresser met. He was just getting by—no fame, no steady job—and, next thing you know he and Sallie were living together. The two formed a close and complicated relationship. And when hard times hit his family, Sallie actually support them… even his mother. The relationship didn’t last. By about 1884, the two had gone their separate ways, and life moved on. But not everything was left behind. Nearly twenty years later, in 1905, Dresser was in failing health and deep financial trouble. And like so often happens, his thoughts drifted back… to earlier days… and to Sallie. That’s when he finally put those memories into a song—“My Gal Sal.” Not the woman society judged… But the one he remembered—lively, a little wild… and, as he put it, “dead on the level.” [Song begins] [Instrumental prelude] [Slow, sad] [Verse 1] Everything is over and I’m feeling bad I lost the best pal that I ever had ‘Tis but a fortnight, since she was here Seems like she’s gone though for twenty year [Enthusiastic expression] Oh, how I miss her my old pal Oh how I’d kiss her my gal Sal Face not so handsome, but eyes don’t you know That shone just as bright, as they did years ago [Happy funk] [Chorus] They called her frivolous Sal A peculiar sort of a gal With a heart that was mellow An all ’round good fellow Was my gal Sal Your troubles, sorrows, and care She was always willing to share A wild sort of devil, but dead on the level Was my gal Sal [Melencholy Bridge] My gal Sal Yeah my gal Sal Talking bout' a peculiar sort of a gal My gal Sal [Slow, sad] [Verse 2] Brought her little dainties just afore she died Promised she would meet me, on the other side Told her how I loved her, she said: “I know Jim” Just do your best, leave the rest to Him Gently I pressed her to my breast Soon she would take her last long rest She looked at me and murmured, “Pal” And softly I whispered, “Goodbye Sal” [Enthusiastic expression] [Chorus] They called her frivolous Sal A peculiar sort of a gal With a heart that was mellow An all ’round good fellow Was my gal Sal Your troubles, sorrows, and care She was always willing to share A wild sort of devil, but dead on the level A wild sort of devil, A wild sort of devil, but dead on the level Was my gal Sal [Melencholy Bridge] My gal Sal Yeah my gal Sal Talking bout' a peculiar sort of a gal My gal Sal [Slow sad, grief] Everything is over and I’m feeling bad I lost the best pal that I ever had Brought her little dainties just afore she died Promised she would meet me, on the other side Oh, how I miss her my old pal Oh how I’d kiss her my gal Sal She looked at me and murmured, “Pal” And softly I whispered, “Goodbye Sal”