"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.

"[3][4] According to Rolling Stone critic Stephen Holden, "As the song unfolds, Joel's 'we' becomes every American soldier, living and dead, who fought in Southeast Asia.

It doesn't end until these guys are absorbed into the mainstream and we deal with our feelings about it.Billboard called it "uncompromisingly bleak" and said that "The style is subdued and intense, with a strong influence of Kurt Weill.

[10] A shortened version of "Goodnight Saigon" was sung by Will Ferrell in a Saturday Night Live sketch, on May 16, 2009, a sketch that also featured cameos by Green Day, Norm Macdonald, Maya Rudolph, Amy Poehler, Tom Hanks, Paul Rudd, Artie Lange, and Anne Hathaway, among others, as background musicians.

[15] A choir composed of dozens of men and women who were of an age to have served in Vietnam - many appearing in uniform - joined Brooks for the final chorus.