"The Girl I Love is Dead" was, by most accounts, Great Awakening's "greatest hit". It actually received occasional radio air play on the local stations "Local hour" and on my college's radio station, WASU. As I had mentioned in an earlier "Story of a Song" installment, this song was originally conceived by Josh O'Connor and I under the mock band, "Soundbox" and was finished with the help of Mike Shaffer in the early days of Great Awakening. It follows the misogynist theme that most "Soundbox" songs had.

The Girl I Love is Dead.

The girl I love is dead, so I'm going out with you.
I know it's all been said before, and you know my love is true.
Suzy never had the chance to tell me we were through,
But now she's six feet under, so I guess you'll have to do.

Chorus:
The girl I love is dead so I'm going out with you.
Suzy's six feet under so I guess you'll have to do.
The girl I love is dead so I'm going out with you.
Suzy's six feet under so I guess you'll have to do.

I went to Suzy's grave today, she didn't say a word.
I cried out in my agony, but I don't think Suzy heard.
Suzy's gone and left me now, she's buried under rock.
Suzy's sucking maggots, but you can suck my...

...Girl I love is dead so I'm going out with you.
Suzy's six feet under so I guess you'll have to do.
The girl I love is dead so I'm going out with you.
Suzy's six feet under so I guess you'll have to do.

Suzy's never coming back, that's 'cuz my Suzy's dead.
But sometimes I think you're OK, when you're lying in my bed.
"Let me brighten up your life", that's what my Suzy said,
Well, Suzy gave me happiness, but you can give me...

...Your phone number (repeats in place of chorus).

(Guitar Solo)

(Rapped):
Well I once knew a girl, and Suzy was her name,
I used to go and visit her but now it's not the same.
Suzy's in a wooden box, Suzy's going rotten
Suzy's flesh is falling off, but Suzy's not forgotten.
Well no one likes to say it but the girl I love is dead.
Suzy's gettin' squishy but at least not in my bed.
While Suzy decomposes, I guess I'll bring you roses.
And I'll just turn and walk away when your own coffin closes.

(Still another guitar solo)

This song was almost always the last song we played at our gigs, and had a rather elaborate performance associated with it. Closing our set with this song, at our final performance at the "Somewhere Else Tavern" in Greensboro, North Carolina is still one of my fondest memories. The crowd knew they were hearing the song for the last time, and they went absolutely insane. I don't think I ever felt more like a rock star than I did during that one song.