Is the song " after the ball is over " based on a true story ?

After the Ball is a popular song written in 1891 by Charles K. Harris. The song is a classic waltz in 3/4 time. In the song, an older man tells his niece why he has never married. He saw his sweetheart kissing another man at a ball, and he refused to listen to her explanation. Many years later, after the woman had died, he discovered that the man was her brother.

"After the Ball" became the most successful song of its era, which at that time was gauged by the sales of sheet music. In 1892 it sold over two million copies of sheet music. Its total sheet music sales exceed five million copies, making it the best seller in Tin Pan Alley's history.

I couldn't find anything to suggest that it was based on a true incident. No doubt, people would think that it was, but it was probably just a figment of the writer's imagination. Typical sentimental 1800's stuff - she died and never told him that the man she'd kissed was her own brother !

I don't think it was based on a real life incident. In the song a man breaks up with his sweetheart because he sees her kissing another man. He never marries and after she dies he finds out the other man was her brother. He didn't know she had a brother? This type of ironic tearjerker story was very popular during the Victorian era. (Check out the stories written by O. Henry.) I think it was just written to a popular formula.

The Victorian era was a much more innocent time. A little peck on the cheek kiss was considered quite a serious commitment.

It could have been a true story. Have you ever heard the song" What happens after the Ball" ? It is a parody and very funny,It starts of "What happens after the Ball? that's what I'd like to know.In the one step fellas hold you so near and whisper things that girls should hear,and in two step they do a new step that isn't in the dance at all if that what they do when their dancing What happens after the Ball.there is a second chorus but only remember part of it,

To Savannas bodyguard,of course a sister can kiss a brother,in Europe it is the common greeting within families,I kiss my sisters everytime I see them

Why was she kissing her brother. Ewww.