Sal

Sal was short for Salvatore he came with little more
than a third grade education from Italian shores
He was part of a generation looking for
a better life a better life

He was the janitor in my elementary school long before
Maintenance Engineers were used
No fool..he was cool
like one of us yes he was

CHORUS
He made the windows shine
And hauled the trash away
Working overtime
every single day
He could do most anything
In the gym he loved to sing Italian Opera
You could see your reflection in the floor
Thanks to Sal, short for Salvatore

A simple man with a simple dream
He spoke broken English, he could not write nor read
How I laughed when he would say “Stay ina school, stay ina school..

‘Cause he never had the chance to go when he was young
He had to work while he was growing up
This was his way to stay in school, stay in school
So..

CHORUS
He made the windows shine
And hauled the trash away
Working overtime
Every single day
He could do most anything
He fixed a broken swing in the playground
You could see your reflection in the floor
Thanks to Sal, short for Salvatore

One thing for sure is that time goes by
I got promoted and went to Junior High
A bigger school that had a crew of guys like Sal
But not like Sal
What’s he doing now?



Finally came the day every school kid dreams about
There I was in my cap and gown
I looked around and after all these years I saw Sal, it was Sal

In his Sunday shoes and best shirt and tie
He wore his tassel on the same side as mine
How he cried and said it’s true you can do what you put your mind to

When you make the windows shine
And haul the trash away
Working overtime
every single day
You can do most anything
He wore a class ring on his finger
You could see your reflection in the floor
Thanks to Sal, Short for Salvatore