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Oh, to be a woman immortalized in song for scorning The Dude of Life! Unlike many early Dude songs that have appeared on the Phish stage, “Suzy Greenberg” became revered by Phish fans and was not saved for guest appearances by The Dude. “Suzy” was one of the early sing-along numbers, alongside “Golgi” and “Alumni Blues.” Ever since its debut on 2/13/87 in Johnson, VT, “Suzy” has been a fixture in Phish setlists, with over 400 lifetime performances spread across three decades. 

Though especially popular in the early days, the simplicity of “Suzy” – and The Dude’s middle-school mentality – can certainly wear thin. In The Phish Book, Trey went so far as to say he was “sick of" it, while also admitting that the “funky three-chord groove sure can be fun to jam over.” Even when the song was ostensibly on the shelf in ‘97 and ‘98 – the song’s two largest performance gaps of 49 and 43 shows were consecutive during this period – it still made one or two token appearances each year.

Watch Suzy Greenberg on YouTube "Suzy Greenberg" – 7/20/91 - Parkville, NY

Most versions do not vary much musically – often, versions are worth hearing for Fishman’s vocal antics in the song’s breaks (particularly after the “neurologist” lyric). Still, there are plenty of strong, jam-laden, even experimental versions of “Suzy.” On 11/13/96, the band laid down an 18-minute exploration that carried the “Suzy” theme long into the jam after a false ending. Later that year on 12/6/96 we witnessed “Suzy” as the vehicle for all the stage spectacle Vegas has to offer, immortalized on Vegas 96. The 9/14/00 Darien Lake version captured on LivePhish 03 is a 20-minute romp that is required “Suzy” listening. If Phish 2.0 is more up your alley, check out the 18-minute slugfest from 6/17/04 on Live in Brooklyn. 

Watch Suzy Greenberg on YouTube "Suzy Greenberg" – 2/25/93 - Miami Beach, FL

No tour through the history of “Suzy” is complete without at least one horn-augmented version, as many fans feel that it was the song that benefited most from the 1991 and 1994 horns tours: 7/12/91 (LivePhish 19) and 12/3/94 Davis, CA should do the trick. Another version that benefitted from the addition of both horns and backup singers is the monster "Suzy" from the Halloween show at Festival 8 (featured in the Phish 3D movie) that was lauded by many fans at the time as the best ever. Of more recent vintage, don’t miss the 8/29/14 Dick’s offering with Jennifer Hartswick on trumpet and Natalie Cressman on trombone. Finally, check out the cover offered by Son Seals and Rebecca’s Statue on Mockingbird’s Sharin’ in the Groove CD.

Watch Suzy Greenberg on YouTube "Suzy Greenberg" – 8/29/14 - Commerce City, CO. Video by LazyLightning55a.

(Anastasio/The Dude of Life)
� by Who Is She? Music, Inc (BMI)

Little Suzy Greenberg, with her head caved in
Soon to let me drown beneath the undertow
You better put that woman in a looney bin
'Cause you know I'd really like to be a part of her show

Suzy is an artist, she paints quite a lot
An artist she may be, but a genius she is not
She says she wants to be a sociologist
But she better first get checked by a neurologist

Suzy, Suzy, Suzy, Suzy
Suzy, Suzy Greenberg
Suzy, Suzy, Suzy, Suzy
Suzy, Suzy Greenberg

Suzy's 'bout as faithful as a slot machine
Pays off once in a while, but then she robs you clean
She's always afraid that she's not sure what she's worth
She's out of her mind, and she's not of this Earth

The woman walks the streets like she's the queen of the town
Doesn't talk very much, she's very profound
Little Suzy Greenberg, always playing a game
But today I bet she's probably forgot my name!

Suzy, Suzy, Suzy, Suzy
Suzy, Suzy Greenberg
Suzy, Suzy, Suzy, Suzy
Suzy, Suzy Greenberg

Little Suzy Greenberg, with her head caved in
Soon to let me drown beneath the undertow
You better put that woman in a loony bin
'Cause you know I'd really like to be a part of her show

Suzy is an artist, she paints quite a lot
An artist she may be, but a genius she is not
She says she wants to be a sociologist
But she better first get checked by a neurologist

Suzy, Suzy, Suzy, Suzy
Suzy, Suzy Greenberg
Suzy, Suzy, Suzy, Suzy
Suzy, Suzy Greenberg