Song Description

Moving folk-story of redemption and honor, making things right and honoring the past- big concert favorite

Lyrics

Billy Saigon

Back in 1968, War was in the air, flowers all had power, kids all swore they cared
Billy's lucky number came up in the lottery, won himself an all expense paid trip across the sea
To Vietnam, from Uncle Sam, why thank you man

On his tour of duty Billy met a Saigon whore, Billy got her pregnant, she gave him a baby boy
Billy had a girl back home and he'd asked for her hand, little Asian babies weren't a part of Billy's plan

Billy left them both for dead like they were VietCong
Billy got back to the world and found his girl was gone
to make her stand, 'gainst Vietnam, 'gainst Uncle Sam


Years went by, Billy tried to put that past behind, some times at night he'd swear he dreamed he heard a baby cry
Billy sat up sweating, and he'd stare into the night, looking for some shadow moving, like a firefight

So Billy went to Washington, he stood there at the Wall, he cried for every name of every brother he'd watched fall
And as he stood there looking, two names he couldn't find, the names of that young Saigon girl and kid he'd left behind.

Billy left them both for dead like they'd been VietCong
Billy got back to the world and found out he'd been wrong
Bout Vietnam, bout Uncle Sam, bout lotsa things.

He dug up old photos, bought a ticket for a plane, headed for that city that they now called Ho Chi Min
Billy spent a month or so just chasing after ghosts, found out that his memory, still guarded its post.

His last night there in Ho Chi Min he went out for a walk, he saw a woman and a young man in a resteraunt
Billy recognized her, even after all the years, then he prayed to a God he'd damned to help him with his fear

Billy'd left them both for dead like they were VietCong
Billy came back from the world, he found them in Saigon, in Vietnam

Billy looked straight at her, as he walked into the room, she wouldn't look at Billy, she just swept up with her broom
Young man said to Billy, he said "hey there Uncle Sam, I'm sorry but its closing time, you need some help, American?"

Billy fought to find the words his feelings couldn't show, he looked at the woman, her eyes just told him no
The young man said to Billy, as he started towards the door, "You know my Dad was American, but he died in the war"

She had left Billy for dead like he'd been VietCong
She had raised her son up to be honest and be strong, in Vietnam, no Uncle Sam, no thank you man

Billy took a look at her, before he walked away, he could sworn he saw the smallest tear run down her face
Billy knew that there was no way that he could repay, and Billy knew her secret was too sacred to betray.

So Billy took a medal out, that he'd won for the war, he rubbed it on his sleeve one time, then gave it to that boy
He said, "I knew your father, son, when he was 'bout your age, and this was his, and now its yours", then Billy walked away

Billy left his past for dead like it was VietCong
Billy got back to his life to make right what was wrong
'bout Vietnam, bout Uncle Sam, bout lotsa things

Words and Music by Wes Hamil

Wes Hamil- Guitars, Bass, Shakers, Vocals
Dana Walden- Organ
Scarecrow Adams- Hand Drums, Drums