Goodnight Saigon

by Billy Joel
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Learn a simple version, phrase by phrase: the melody, then easy chords.

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Lyrics

We met as (Dm)soul mates

on (G7)Par ris (C)Is land.

We (C)left as (Dm)in mates

from (G7)an a (C)sy lum.

And we were (Em)sharp,

as sharp as (Em)knives,

and we were (Dm)so gung ho to (Dm)lay down our lives.

We came in (Dm)spas tic

like (G7)tame less (C)hors es.

We (C)left in (Dm)plas tic

as (G7)num bered (C)corps es.

And we learned (Em)fast

to trav el (Em)light,

our arms were (Dm)so gung ho to (Dm)lay down our lives.

We came in (Dm)heav y but our (Dm)bel lies were tight.

We had no (Dm)home front,

we (G7)had no (C)soft soap.

They (C)sent us (Dm)Play boy,

they (G7)gave us (C)Bob Hope.

We dug in (Em)deep

and shot on (Em)sight,

and prayed to (Dm)Je sus Christ with (Dm)all of our might.

We had no (Dm)cam ’ras

to (G7)shoot the (C)land scape.

We (C)passed the (Dm)hash pipe

and (G7)played our (C)Doors tapes.

And it was (Em)dark,

so dark at (Em)night.

And we held (Dm)on to each oth er like (Dm)broth er to broth er.

We (Bb)prom ised our moth ers we’d write.

(C)And we would (F)all

go (Bb)down

to (C)geth er.

(C)We said we’d (F)all

go (Bb)down

to (C)geth er.

(C)Yes, we would (F)all

go (Bb)down

to (G9)geth er.

Re mem ber (Dm)Char lie,

re (G7)mem ber (C)Bak er,

they (C)left their (Dm)child hood

on (G7)ev ’ry (C)a cre.

And who was (Em)wrong?

And who was (Em)right?

It did n’t (Dm)mat ter in the (Dm)thick of the fight.

(Am)We

(G)held the (C)day

(Dm)in the (E)palm

(Dm)of our (E)hand.

(Am)They

(G)ruled the (C)night,

(Dm)and the (E)night

(Dm)seemed to (G9)last as long as

Goodnight Saigon β€” Easy Piano Notes for Beginners

19 people have learned this song

Learn "Goodnight Saigon" on piano with easy notes β€” perfect for absolute beginners. Large color-coded note names show exactly which keys to press. No music reading required. Key of C, 60 BPM.

Tip: Start at 50% speed to get comfortable with the fingering, then work your way up to full tempo.

About β€œGoodnight Saigon”

Can I play "Goodnight Saigon" without reading sheet music?
Yes β€” Easy Notes mode prints the letter name (C, D, E…) directly on each note in big color-coded labels, so you can match colors to your keyboard without any traditional notation. The whole arrangement of "Goodnight Saigon" is playable in minutes, even for first-time players.
What key is "Goodnight Saigon" by Billy Joel played in?
Goodnight Saigon is arranged in the key of C on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
What's the tempo (BPM) of "Goodnight Saigon"?
The arrangement plays at 60 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "Goodnight Saigon" easy to play on piano?
Yes β€” this is one of our beginner-friendly arrangements with simplified chords and color-coded notes.
Can I download sheet music for "Goodnight Saigon"?
Yes β€” registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "Goodnight Saigon"?
"Goodnight Saigon" was originally performed by Billy Joel. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What chords are used in "Goodnight Saigon"?
This arrangement uses 15 chords: Am, Bb, Bbmaj7, C, D, Dm, Dm7, E, +7 more.
What other songs by Billy Joel can I play here?
Try "SCENES FROM AN ITALIAN RESTAURANT", "EVERYBODY HAS A DREAM", "CAPTAIN JACK". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
Can a complete beginner play "Goodnight Saigon"?
Absolutely! The Beginner mode shows large color-coded notes with letter names (C, D, E...). Just match the colors to your keyboard β€” no music reading needed. "Goodnight Saigon" is perfect for first-time players.
Do I need to read music to play "Goodnight Saigon"?
No! Our Beginner mode replaces traditional notation with color-coded letter names. Each note shows exactly which key to press. You can start playing "Goodnight Saigon" in minutes, even if you've never touched a piano before.