Billy Joel - Goodnight Saigon (Official Video) 

Sorry to hear

❤

great story, really heartwarming. rest in peace to your grandfather.

I never understood the hatred to these fine young men!! I’m 56 and still don’t understand it!! Good for your grandfather!! I’m sure he still loved America! And realized that not everyone felt that way.. but, I get it… may he rest in peace!!!❤️🤍💙🌷

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Exactly. There were dumbass reporters who actually called this "obscene" for not taking a political side.

This is the war I watched as a child on TV every morning while eating my breakfast during the late 60's and early 70's. It is so strange to see these guys that were just ten years older than me in most cases now appear as old men when I see them talking about the experiences. As a kid it was the WWII vets that were mostly in the 50' and 60 that I saw as old and wise. The Vietnam vets will always be those young guys in their mid 20's and early 30's maybe. I know a few Vietnam war vets and most have never talked about Vietnam. Some of which I have known for 40 years. Only my old coworker and friend Vaughn Webb ever talked to me about his experiences and how it shaped his life. He is gone now too. Alcoholism ended his life to soon.

@Cody Melvin haven't a Scoobie have you?🙈

@@timg185 There's only losers in war. What's the price paid for eternal tragedy that can't be compensated for heartbroken families who never get to see their lost and fallen kids anymore? Tell me that if you can with some intelligent words from the heart and not some cliche from traditional American war policies.

@@timg185 I was actually quoting Bart Simpson in the ending of the "Bart the General" episode from the first season of the Simpsons, where he stated that there are no winners in war, only losers. But I meant no disrespect to the countless people who died and fought to keep freedom from giving out from under, you know. You're totally right about war being essential to freedom.

Hello👋, how are you doing today?

I feel so sorry for that ! Much more as I know we are again very closed to that sit. Even worse...

I met a vietnam chopper pilot in California in 1996. Bob Caldwell was such a hero. I hope his sons Ian and Brett might someday stumble onto this memory of mine. I will never forget him.

God Bless your Father. Much more of a man than I'll ever be.

Can he (or you) shed some light on the significance of 'soft soap'... that lyric has always bothered me in that I get 100% of the rest of the song but what in the world is the significance of soft soap, so much so that Billy has it rounding out the first verse. And yes, I get that it works well with 'Bob Hope' that follows... but Billy Joel is such a meticulous (and f___ brilliant lyricist) that he I can't imagine him using 'soft soap' without it having... some sort of significance in that era.... thanks and god bless your pops and anyone who had to live through that hell for any amount of time

Thank you for your service. Welcome home.

I love your for what you did and w hat you are. Stand tall

I'm not a veteran and cry every time I listen to this masterpiece. I honor and support our veterans. Especially DAV. Thank you for your service. 🙏 ❤️🇺🇲

Me too. RVN 1966

Thank you for your service sir

Semper Fidelis! I am so sorry for the loss you suffered. This song haunts me as well. I served in the military (Air Force) between 1983 and 2003. You guys are my heroes! I knew we were safer when you were there. Thank you for your service no matter when you served.

Pat Eroh Thank you brother.

I served as a Marine (ComCam) and fought in the Battle of Najaf, Iraq while embedded with Company A, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) in August 2004... This song always gets me. I am sorry for your loss. No matter how many years pass, sometimes it feels like it just happened yesterday. Semper Fidelis, Brother.

Ugly Molly Semper Fi

As a Canadian with a military family, I'm thankful I never had to go through that. The values have been passed, and I am a regular volunteer for the Legion.

it wasn't for nothing, don't believe 'the bleeding hearts'.

Thank you, Tammi.

May he Rest in Peace. RIP.

he died defending freedom and a way of life. god bless your dad and your family. you can be very proud of his courage.

Jeff Pehl was isn’t about freedom. It’s about money. And the civilians are the ones that suffer and sometimes even lose everything

#TalibanBlitzkrieg 😅🤣😅🤣

Exactly what brought me here too...

Listening in August 2021 too 🙋🇺🇲🛠️🇷🇺

Defintely a relevant song

@@srinagarpakistan3627 Are you German or Dutch? I would like to know becouse you basically use those mass killers as a security blanket becouse you don't want the responsibility.

I fought in different wars with the Foreign Legion, but this song always makes me cry. Touches every grunt, in any time period

@@jamestsiang3548 That couldn't be more true. She always told me that war is war, no matter what period or where it's fought.

I'm saying a prayer for you and your mom.

You have your endearing memory , my heart wishes for your Grandmother to divert memory to soften and mend her own heart ❤️

❤️

Right!

Billy Joel Goodnight Saigon 1982

I am just a young woman born in the early 2000's and this song, regardless of me never experiencing anyone going to war, still brings me to tears and sends chills up my spine and my whole body.

amen been there

U571.....Billy Joel is a fave ....this tune cracks me up everytime. ..and the show with vets as backing brilliant. ...not religious but bless you all and the brits.....I salute you ...British. ..proud...but we need to be stronger...oh putin. ..like our Corbyn. ..a pratt

Moriyah Ramberg is he still alive

Moriyah Ramberg That is COOL !!!! :-)

Wow! Tell him I say welcome home :)

Lol

Tell him that we are grateful.

😪😪😪😓

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Made me cry😢

As I regularly listen to this masterpiece, it makes me sad to hear current politicians negatively throwing around duty as if it was not as serious as life and death, not the act of selflessness that perpetuates the human species.

jutubaeh U wot?

TeamGavino Pretty obvious weren't there either.

+TeamGavino He said that his veteran friends asked him to write this song. When he protested that he wasn't there, they told him what they wanted to say.

He was exempted because he was the sole provider for his mother.

Really? Wow.

Glad you came home ! Strength and Honor ! (24 September 2018 1915 hours)

BUTCHERING BASTARD MI LAI 1968 2 IRAQ WARS.

Massive respect! If it wasn't for the Yanks getting involved. England Great Britain would be in trouble. America introduce everything from music to bubblegum. God bless America. X

Hi, John. Another 1st Sig Alumni here. Long Binh, Phuc Vinh '70-'71. Well said.

Thank you for your service...my father was USAF at Cam Rahn Bay 70 to 71

God loves you...God loves you all 🙏❤️❤️

ONE OF!?!?

@@albertstashin4371 its not THE greatest song ever written.. yes, its HIS greatest song and would be the song I would point to if asked what song made Billy Joel 'great'.

I know dude we did the civilians dirty over there. We owed them more. There good people there government sucks but Man it hurts to see them running from there homes with those monsters hot on there heels.

Goodnight Afghan

Goodnight Kabul

Yes it does sweetie, my husband was a combat medic in Vietnam.This is tragic for our troops, No man left behind, what on Gods earth has that man done.

@@jennyhagemann5159 Exactly. And he's not the real president because he was installed like a toilet in the White House by the Democrats. Grrrrr.

I'm Portuguese and "only" 58 years old, but somehow this resonates with me, like no other "war" song. I love Billy Joel

I cant find the poem. Could you maybe link it or type it?

Thank you

How is this song regarded in Vietnam? There are some big nods towards the Viet side in the lyrics.

Its amazing to read this because I was just wondering if they sing songs similar to this one in Vietnam.

​@@sunsetpark_fpvUnfortunately, they sing songs like this everywhere.

I cry everytime I watch that did you see the video that was made with this song I really can't imagine how those young men got through that war worse than hell

Billy has a rule he will only allow Veterans to sing the Chorus as show of respect love Billy ❤

@@orendaniel6187 Have you seen the 2013 Kennedy Center Honors for Billy Joel? Garth Brooks sang the song, with a huge group of Veterans onstage to sing the chorus. Very powerful. The whole show is excellent.

Until now I wasn’t aware there were veterans involved

I heard about this song in English class last year when I had to analyze the lyrics and I almost broke down to tear because I'm going to Paris island as well but this song is just so emotional

+Name Unknown it is ... and true for the blokes who went there -

+YathuS 78 what school are you from

+Susanmary Trescowthick I know

+Steven King And stupid as fuck as well

I know this is 7 years later, and you probably might not remember this comment, but damn, that is deep

Same for my grandpa only he was in Stalingrad. It's a shame that mental health was such a taboo topic back then.

Agreed. The Government Sucks. Money Machine. I'm Sorry Your Father Held that for So Long. The Only Needed Wars are The Ones Fought Here on American Soil. It's coming again. And I Mean NO Disrespect for Those Who Died Abroad. War On Any Level Sucks.

I am so sorry for your loss. My cousin who was in Vietnam ended his war with the war the same way in 2001. Prayers for you and all the vets with PTSD who still fight the effects whether it is Vietnam or Iraq.

My father was in Vietnam. Late 60s.. I feel your pain and sorrow.. My father FIANALLY got help in 2000s.. He takes prozac to this day to ease the nightmares..

@vickimarten4222 Omg I'm crying! He is the epitome of what a survivor of Vietnam vet suffered through, yet went on to have a family. HE is one of the LUCKY ONES. He will R.I.P. along with his "brothers," relationships that we will never understand, but we know they are held together forever. God only knows how many lives your dearly departed husband saved.

God bless you

I’m so sorry for your loss

Salute!

💜🕊💜🙏🏼💜

Wow! I am speechless! Yes to every thing you shared!

I love this sentiment. God bless from your British cousins across The Pond

Omg.....i get absolute chills every time i hear this song. So fucking powerful 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

This and Leningrad. Always makes me cry buckets

Because someone else wrote it.

Unless he's a Veteran himself he probably spoke with as many as he could find and then wrote about their experiences.

@@sadem1045 A Vietnam veterans organization wanted him to write a Vietnam song. He protested that he didn't serve but they insisted, and after urging from friends who were Marine vets he made the song from there.

My favorite song of Joel

He is undoubtedly a very talented musician and entertainer.

AMEN !

Michael Hillhouse 👍

Lmao of course that matters

Liam Gallagher our soldiers follow orders! The average citizen does not know if a war is worth fighting or not. We depend on our government to determine that. These soldiers deserve the same acknowledgement as any other soldier. You also have to remember the Vietnam conflict began only 10 to 20 years after World War II . Depending on what you consider the beginning to be. The threat and fear of communism and brutal dictatorships was fresh in the minds of the world. Something people can’t understand now because in comparison people are spoiled now. Vietnam was a much more complicated issue than people give it credit for. I heard a historian say that if we had achieved our goals the war would be seen now in a much different light.

@@WakaWaka2468 no, scumbag, it doesn't

What was your role?

@@unitedstatesofamerica9948 I was the show rigger, hanging lighting, audio, video, etc. over the band and audience. When Saigon was on the band list, I sang the chorus on stage in a pool of light... "and we will all go down together". For the NY show that was recorded in '82, I signed a waiver and got a check for $10.00. fun times.

Hello, how are you doing?

I am doing fine. Living in CA, not to far from where I started in San Francisco. Looking forward to seeing a live show soon. I'm typically in NY during April and hope that Billy will be playing at MSG. I saw Richie playing at the Bitter End last April. He had to take two looks before he figured out who I was. When people ask me what band did you like to tour with, I always say the Billy Joel band. Have two platinum albums on my wall to remind me.

Hey, cool of Billy to check in on the comments! I am from South- Africa. The song has a lot of meaning for me.

Salute to you/him. There was and is whiskey and solitude. Not as bad as you would think and so humbling that the people are completely worth it (nowadays). Vietnam Vets were spat upon. My first firefight was in 83 during the Grenada rescue and it just kept going until retirement. Served with many UK types. Loved it and man, we had it so much easier than my Fathers/Uncles.. Squad Leader to Command Sergeant Major were Vietnam Vets. My favorite CSM Berry did 10 tours in Vietnam. Anything I have done is sort of like "I swept the hallway."

@@geoffwalters3662 Thanks Geoff, but I'm sure you did more than just "sweep the hallway". Take care.

@@Brownalebelly Thank you for the kind words. Apparently, part of your father lives on with honor in you.

Thank you for your father.I can live a free and peaceful life in Korea.

@@user-lv5kn6ni7q Your kind message brought tears to my eyes this morning. Thank you so much. I hope to visit Korea one day.

The Vietnam War ended in 1975 and this song came out on the 1982 album....not long after the war had ended. I see them all embraced and it's so genuine! Makes me weepy for them.

1982, many of them were only in early 30's and the War was still fresh in everyone's minds. My cousin was in Vietnam. He actually looks like a young George Clooney in the pictures he brought back from NAM. He never talks about it. Only says, he got to see Hell and survived. My Cousin sadly passed away since I posted this comment. But he will never be forgotten. Tom McDonald 12th Evac Cu Chi Vietnam 68/69

@a10warthog61 It's totally possibly if dad was career military, had kids young, and brother enlisted at 17 or 18.

So maybe we will be able to grapple with Afghanistan conflict in about 7 years? It does take a while for a society to want to really look at something that is so painful for so many... Please pray for veterans and women and girls that they can stay strong throughout those 7 years....

@@KayInMaine lllllllllll) lllllllllllllll0l

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Dear God... Respect to your brother.

His friends who fought in Vietnam talked to him and told him about their experiences so he could write a song about it

yessir

007 - we served together brother...1/4avn regt, attached to 1st armored cav. "Apaches" 'shield/'storm '90-'91 yeah man, a few others that I get a lump in my throat: Jackson Brown FOR AMERICA . . .Midnight Oil THE FORGOTTEN YEARS . . .Roger Waters GOING HOME . . .and THE BALLAD OF BILL HUBBARD part I and II

Thank you for your service

Yes everytime 😥😭 xx

Thank You for your Service.

Please tell me this is a joke

At least he didn't say "I WAS BORN IN THE WRONG GENERATION"

that is so true

"gangster rapers"

Santo Calarco yes but I am 10

makes me think of Afghanistan. That now is our history's worse screw up. Biden left our people and our allies he wants us to forget.

@lelwut Ron Jeremy - King of cock

I think he’s the greatest singer of all time.

I couldn't agree more

west virginia has the dubious honor of the largest number of young men killed in the vietnam war. 41% of the combat casualties in vietnam were from the states of the old confederacy.

This is BS. Most GI's in Nam were from PA or Ca.

Billy Joel wrote this song from our soldier's eyes. That's why it's so powerful and I can understand why the veterans love it.

West Virginia fought for the North. They got statehood in 1863. They never fought for the South and was NOT a part of the old Confederacy.

That's because the veterans from Vietnam helped Billy write this song by telling him what it was like and what happened!!!

💜

Gail nice

Yes,it was lacking the first couple of verses' lyrics.

Thank you for putting the lyrics up. Really appreciate that

Six weeks at Parris Island makes me so sad because they were only given 1/3rd of the training at that time because they needed to ship soldiers in so quickly. They had no experience and lack of quality training. No match for the vietnamese soldiers who often shot them down before they even landed :( 😭

+Francine Jewett I agree

Same.

Yeah but don’t forget, the French went in first sometime around 1946 until 1954 and even after the 8 years they spent there, they were no closer to bringing an end to the fight than the USA were in 1973. They had partially been involved since 1950 by providing military aid to the French forces stating at around $10M in the first year to 51 the rising gradually until by 1961, they had 1400 service men with boots on the ground in South Vietnam acting initially as advisors but that role very quickly changed as they started to come under fire from the Communist Forces of the Viet Minh at the time, fighting for Ho Chi Minh who was supported by the Soviet Union which then made the US Establishment worried about tipping the balance in then French IndoChina so they decided to start getting more involved in the actual fighting than they had done before which meant increasing the number of boots on the ground which they did year on year from then on until they realised it was a lost cause just creating serious disorder at home due to the Anti War Movement that had grown out of the disillusionment felt by the returning troops that actually made it home. That is why in 1973 they agreed to pull out their troops from South Vietnam and leave the civil war to rage on for a while after they got out. For many at the end, they barely made it out alive which must have been terrifying for the last few with boots on the ground at the time at the American Embassy there, including the Ambassador too. My respect goes out to all who fought in that war, whether they returned or didn’t as many who did return are still reliving what happened out there to this day, my heart goes out to you all. Thank you all for your service and that goes out to anyone who has served their country in conflict as war always leaves its scars on people, no matter how strong they appear to be on the outside! Be kind and take care of one another, no matter their race, colour or creed as remember, that person in need could be yourself someday! I am from the UK but since I was young, have always been interested in the events surrounding this particular conflict and as everyone has said, this song has been the best one ever to show what happens in conflict and how things go down from the soldiers perspective and is therefore enlightening yet heartbreaking too for all the needless slaughter of the brotherhood that is the War Machine as a whole. Bear in mind all servicemen and women, wherever they are serving at this present moment and keep them in your thoughts. Love to them all wherever they are now!

Stop glorifying tools of wars for greed. Discern. Don't be duped. I mean it.

+Sharon Ross my love to the fallen,As a Irish man who thinks there is no god,I wish nothing but the best to you,May your god help you an yours .

+Des Perkins are you on any other things so we could talk? I'm on fb,Google plus

+Des Perkins there's a God and the evil will never know that,they don't want to know that,or are just too ignorant to see the good,these physco people attacking others are nothing more than people who have had no place in life and feel like joining a group of crazy people will give them a feeling of belonging to something or someone,I feel sorry for those who are fooled by joining arms with murderers as in the attacks on innocent people,they obviously have no guidance in life but it is not an excuse to murder,not in the past and not now! NEVER!!!!

all who fight for their country should be respected when they return home. Most of the wars we fight are not just and so many young men and women are political pawns but their mindset and bravery afford me the right to type this. I respect them even if i disagree with the battles they have engaged in.

+Sharon Ross "There's a god and evil will never know that." People with this train of thought start wars. People with this train of thought is why the troops are dying in the first place.

I hear you brother, the war stopped my junior year in high school, and I was glad it ended. I had pretty much resigned myself to getting a shitty number and going, and since my Dad fought in France - I sure as hell had to follow suit, but damn - we were the lucky ones. I'm grateful for those who served.

Hope you are doing well

Thank you.

No one came back the same. Thank you for your father and for his service. America owes a debt it can never repay to those who fought in "Nam, Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand.

Thats brought tears of happiness to my eyes...thanks

Thank your father for me. And apologize for what the media did to those vets

yes i could listen to this all day

PhlashRockinmann I'm so sorry for your loss

God bless.

i'm sorry for your loss. he was a marine: semper fi!. and god bless!

Trust me, its not the country thats cruel, just certian people. Mostly republicans.

Our country isn't cruel. Our country is full of people just like these men who served. We all need to do better, be better informed, and pick better representatives in every government position we vote for. We owe them that, and if we aren't doing it, then we are failing them and those we want to protect today. Your sons should grow up proud that we have the right to vote, and speak, and serve.

You had an excellent English teacher.

you read the real stories of every vietnam vet..and reports....and then the words keep rolling in....and you were tired and depressed..but the message must pass'throught for the generation to come...

Same! Incredible song ✨

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Yes!

I don't think he can (especially now that he's not writing anything.) Everyone is right. I don't think he himself was in any war but this song makes it sound like he was. I've always wondered if he announced that he was making a video of this and invited vets to send in pictures.

you are so right. we all need to show our appreciation,respect and support for those who have have served our country

+TheRealTricky Yes, there's this thing called empathy, which means you can feel things that you have not experienced, at least not in this lifetime. I have the same reaction to this song, and I am a 52-year-old woman who hates war and has always acutely felt the pain of others. A psychic told me I was a warrior in a previous life (or maybe more than one) .... and I felt terrible about what I had to do. I think this is where our empathy comes from. May we all be headed for peace.

+TheRealTricky I first heard this song in Iraq in 2003, and it struck me as how hauntingly accurate it was in nailing the emotional stress brought on by war. When you see a piece of trash at the side of the road, and your first thought is "IED," or begin to calm after the insurgent's last mortar round for the night fell nearby the taxing feelings inside are so tense but at the same time equally soothing. This song just hits that like no other.

You mean you fought during the war that brought the downfall of Saddam Hussein? I'm short on words. It also gladdens me you can confirm the feelings I have when I hear this song.

Wat een held! Thank you for your service.

Yep, if for some reason you need to feel sad, listen to this. What a beautiful masterpiece and tribute.

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Maybe He thought the song wouldn't mean as much in the UK as it did in the USA.

thank you for your service

SammyBoyATP , my uncles were at Khe Sanh ! I glad your father got back home ! My uncles not so lucky , but I'll see them again one day . Strength and Honor (24 September 2018 1930 hours)

👍🇺🇸😔

What was done to our Viet Nam vets was disgusting. An embarrassment that can never be erased. Thank you for your service, Warren. Very sorry for the hurt in your heart.

Welcome home, brother. Semper Fi.

You hurt others, you get hurt. Soldiers aren't invincible. Only one American soldier dies for every 100 innocent civilians

+Shax I Agree and This Song is Best By Billy Joel About Americans!

grow up! snowflake

It doesn't convey that at all.

@@josephjames7634 Listen, I ain't no snowflake, but I know this: anyone who calls someone who can't stand the atrocity of war is the one who needs to grow up. Ask any vet; I guarantee they'll tell you war is never they're first option, neither do they look forward to it. *Peace* is the military's proffession, not violence.

By Palestinians terrorists, and then they wonder why we support Israel

ur 21 now:D

Yeah, now Im the 14 year old who finds it amazing.

@@bingekingo9040 same

@@ethanarnel9513 same

Cheers mate, drink to that

He must have been inspired by veterans he knew personally.

why would you want to go back to that hell 2.5 more times.

Nr1from1978 That is where your brothers were.

Elisse my father was 3 tours there....