Goodnight Saigon

Billy Joel

About Goodnight Saigon

"Goodnight Saigon" is a song written by Billy Joel, originally appearing on his 1982 album The Nylon Curtain, about the Vietnam War. It depicts the situation and attitude of United States Marines beginning with their military training on Parris Island and then into different aspects of Vietnam combat.


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We met as soulmates
On Parris Island
We left as inmates
From an asylum
And we were sharp
As sharp as knives
And we were so gung ho to lay down our lives

We came in spastic
Like tameless horses
We left in plastic
As numbered corpses
And we learned fast
To travel light
Our arms were heavy
But our bellies were tight

We had no homefront
We had no soft soap
They sent us playboy
They gave us bob hope
We dug in deep
And shot on sight
And prayed to Jesus Christ
With all of our might

We had no cameras
To shoot the landscape
We passed the hash pipe
And played our Doors tapes
And it was dark
So dark at night
And we held onto each other
Like brother to brother
We promised our mothers we'd write

And we would all go down together
We said we'd all go down together
Yes we would all go down together

Remember Charlie
Remember Baker
They left their childhood
On every acre
And who was wrong
And who was right
It didn't matter
In the thick of the fight

We, held the day
In the palm of our hands
They, ruled the night
And the night, seemed to last
As long as six weeks
On Parris Island
We held the coastline
They held the highland
And they were sharp
As sharp as knives
They heard the hum of the motors
They counted the rotors
And waited for us to arrive

And we would all go down together
We said we'd all go down together
Yes we would all go down together

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Billy Joel

William Martin "Billy" Joel (born May 9, 1949) is an American pianist, singer-songwriter, and composer. Since releasing his first hit song, "Piano Man," in 1973, Joel has become the sixth best-selling recording artist and the third best-selling solo artist in the United States, according to the RIAA. He also has the third best-selling album in the United States with his Greatest Hits Vol. 1 & 2. more »

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Written by: Billy Joel

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Song Release
"Goodnight Saigon" was released by Billy Joel on his ninth album, "The Nylon Curtain", in September 1982.
Theme
The song is notable for it being one of the few pop songs of the time that was primarily about the Vietnam War and showed empathy towards Vietnam Veterans.
Inspiration
"Goodnight Saigon" was inspired by the stories of Billy Joel's friends who were Vietnam Veterans, and it is an expression of their experiences in war.
Music Composition
Notably, the song starts and ends with a helicopter sound, symbolizing the airlift operations during the war.
Song Lyrics
The lyrics of the song don't contain a reference to any individuals being killed, but rather they describe fear, loneliness, and the horror of war.
Critical Reception
The song received significant praise from critics for its emotional tone and sentiment, despite not being a major hit on the charts.
Chart Performance
"Goodnight Saigon" did not reach high positions on the charts in the United States, but it was a number 1 hit in Norway and made the top 5 in the UK and Dutch charts.
Vietnam Veterans' Reaction
The song was heard as a welcome recognition of the Vietnam veterans' experience, many of whom felt their service had been overlooked, or worse, derided.
In Concert
When performing "Goodnight Saigon" in concert, Joel often brings on stage veterans or active-duty members of the U.S. military.
Cover Versions
The song has been covered by various artists including Garth Brooks, Elaine Paige, and The Celtic Tenors.

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    Goodnight Saigon

    6.5M
    26,563     897

    Top Hot 100 Songs 1983

    Billboard #56


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