Robin McLaurin Williams (July 21, 1951– August 11, 2014) was an American ac… Read Full Bio ↴Robin McLaurin Williams (July 21, 1951– August 11, 2014) was an American actor and stand-up comedian. Rising to fame with his role as the alien Mork in the TV series Mork & Mindy (1978–1982), Williams went on to establish a successful career in both stand-up comedy and feature film acting. His film career included such acclaimed films as Good Morning, Vietnam (1987), Dead Poets Society (1989), Awakenings (1990), The Fisher King (1991), and Good Will Hunting (1997), as well as financial successes such as Popeye (1980), Hook (1991), Aladdin (1992), Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), Jumanji (1995), The Birdcage (1996), Night at the Museum (2006), and Happy Feet (2006). He also appeared in the video "Don't Worry, Be Happy" by Bobby McFerrin.

Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor three times, Williams went on to receive the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Good Will Hunting (1997). He also received two Emmy Awards, four Golden Globes, two Screen Actors Guild Awards and five Grammy Awards.

On August 11, 2014, Williams was found unconscious at his residence and was pronounced dead at the scene. The Marin County, California coroner's office said they believe the cause of death was asphyxiation.

Adrian Cronauer
Robin Williams Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Good Morning, Vietnam!!!
Hey, this is not a test, this is rock 'n roll.
Time to rock it from the delta to the DMZ.
Is that me or does it sound like an Elvis Presley movie?
Viva, Da Nang.
Oh, viva, Da Nang.
Da Nang me, Da Nang me.
Why don't they get a rope and hang me?

Hey, is it too early for being that loud?
Hey, too late.
It's 0600, what's the "o" stand for?
Oh, my God, it's early.
Speaking of early:"
"(hums The Twilight Zone theme song) Picture a man going on a journey beyond sight and sound.
He's left Crete, he's entered the demilitarized zone.
What's a demilitarized zone?
sounds like something from The wizard of Oz."
"(female voice) Oh no...
don't go in there!! (deep voice)
HO HE HO HO-Che Minh. (Female Voice) Oh look landed in Saigon, you're among the little people now. (midget voice imitation)
We represent the ARVN Army.
The northern army. (male voice) Oh, no, follow the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
Follow the Ho Chi Minh Trail. (Witch Voice) "
Oh, I'll get you my pretty!" (Dorothy) Oh, my God, it's the wicked witch of the north.
It's Hanoi Hanna! (Witch Voice) "
Now, little G.
I., you and your little Tutu too.!"
"(female voice)
Oh Adrian.
Adrian...
giggle...
What are you doing Adrian? (Cronauer)
Oh Hannah you slut, you've been down everything but the Titanic, stop it right now (witch)
I'm melting...
HEHEHE... (Cronauer)
But hey, here is some advice...
Don't eat at a restaurant located next to a pound."
Hey, can you tell me what's your name? "
My name is Roosevelt E.
Roosevelt." Roosevelt, what town are you stationed in? "
I'm stationed in Poontang." Well, thank you, Roosevelt.
What's the weather like out there? "
It's hot!
Damn hot!
Real hot!
Hottest thing is my shorts.
I could cook things in it.
A little crotch pot cooking." Well, tell me what it feels like. "
Fool, it's hot!
I told you again!
Were you born on the sun?
It's damn hot!
It's so damn hot, I saw these little guys, their orange robes burst into flames.
It's that hot!
Do you know what I'm talking about?" What do you think it's going to be like tonight? "
It's gonna be hot and wet!
That's nice if you're with a lady, but ain't no good if you're in the jungle!" Thank you, Roosevelt."

Here is a song coming your way right now...
Nowhere To Run - Martha and the Vandellas YES!"

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Robin Williams's song, Adrian Cronauer, are a commentary on the Vietnam War and the role of media in covering it. The song opens with Cronauer introducing himself and setting the tone for the show, which is characterized by irreverence and rock and roll music. The lyrics evoke a sense of chaos and absurdity as Cronauer talks about the demilitarized zone and the different voices he uses to mimic different characters, including Saigon Hanna and the Wicked Witch of the North.

The song is also a commentary on the absurdity of war and the extreme conditions soldiers face. Roosevelt's description of the weather is humorous but also highlights the physical endurance required in the jungle. The lyrics also touch on issues of racism and sexism, as seen in the exchange between Cronauer and Hanna, where he calls her a slut. Overall, the song captures the mood of the Vietnam War era through its mix of comedy and commentary.

Line by Line Meaning

Good Morning, Vietnam!!!
I am excited to start this radio broadcast in Vietnam!

Hey, this is not a test, this is rock 'n roll.
I am not joking or running a test, this is real rock and roll music.

Time to rock it from the delta to the DMZ.
We will play music across the breadth of Vietnam!

Is that me or does it sound like an Elvis Presley movie?
The music we're playing is so good, it sounds like a movie by great Elvis Presley!

Viva, Da Nang.
Let us celebrate Da Nang's vibrancy!

Oh, viva, Da Nang.
I am excited about the life and energy of Da Nang!

Da Nang me, Da Nang me.
I have become a part of Da Nang!

Why don't they get a rope and hang me?
I feel like I'm in heaven and want to stay this way forever!

Hey, is it too early for being that loud?
I wonder if it's too early to play such loud music on the radio.

Hey, too late.
It is too late for that because I already started playing!

It's 0600, what's the "o" stand for?
I am making a joke that the 'o' in 0600 stands for 'oh my God, it's early'!

Oh, my God, it's early.
I am expressing my surprise and dismay at how early it is.

"(hums The Twilight Zone theme song) Picture a man going on a journey beyond sight and sound.
I'm humming The Twilight Zone theme to describe a man traveling to unknown places.

He's left Crete, he's entered the demilitarized zone.
This man has left Crete and entered the demilitarized zone of Vietnam.

What's a demilitarized zone?
I act like I don't know the meaning of 'demilitarized zone' to get a chuckle from my listeners.

sounds like something from The wizard of Oz."
I am comparing the term 'demilitarized zone' to something that would be found in The Wizard of Oz.

"(female voice) Oh no... don't go in there!! (deep voice) HO HE HO HO-Che Minh. (Female Voice) Oh look landed in Saigon, you're among the little people now. (midget voice imitation) We represent the ARVN Army. The northern army. (male voice) Oh, no, follow the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Follow the Ho Chi Minh Trail. (Witch Voice) "
These are various voices and sounds meant to create a humorous sketch of Vietnamese events.

Oh, I'll get you my pretty!
This is a quote from The Wizard of Oz, creating a humorous reference to the Vietnamese situation.

(Dorothy) Oh, my God, it's the wicked witch of the north.
I am pretending to be Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, reacting to the situation in an exaggerated way.

It's Hanoi Hanna! (Witch Voice) "
I am creating an imaginary figure named 'Hanoi Hanna', again using humor to lighten the mood.

Now, little G.
'G.I.' was a slang term for soldiers.

I., you and your little Tutu too.!"
I am making a humorous reference to the Scarecrow's line in The Wizard of Oz, implying that Vietnamese soldiers are not tough.

"(female voice) Oh Adrian. Adrian... giggle... What are you doing Adrian? (Cronauer) Oh Hannah you slut, you've been down everything but the Titanic, stop it right now (witch) I'm melting... HEHEHE... (Cronauer)"
These lines are part of a comic dialogue between Adrian and Hannah, involving implied romance and humor.

But hey, here is some advice...
I am shifting the focus from comedy to sincere advice.

Don't eat at a restaurant located next to a pound."
This is advice about avoiding unsanitary conditions when eating at a restaurant.

Hey, can you tell me what's your name? "
I am pretending to interview someone on the radio.

"My name is Roosevelt E. Roosevelt."
This is a mock response from someone who gives the same first and last name.

"Roosevelt, what town are you stationed in? " I'm stationed in Poontang."
This is a crude yet playful joke on the name of a Vietnamese town.

Well, thank you, Roosevelt.
I'm thanking Roosevelt for the laughs.

What's the weather like out there? " It's hot!
This is a simplistic answer to a common question about the weather in Vietnam.

Damn hot!
I'm emphasizing that it's really hot outside.

Real hot!
I'm repeating myself to underscore how hot it is.

Hottest thing is my shorts. I could cook things in it. A little crotch pot cooking."
I'm making a crude and humorous observation about how hot it is.

"Well, tell me what it feels like. " Fool, it's hot!
I'm responding to an interviewer's question by using playful sarcasm.

I told you again!
I'm repeating myself to make sure I'm heard and understood.

Were you born on the sun?
I'm sarcastically asking if it's possible the interviewer has never felt this much heat before.

It's so damn hot, I saw these little guys, their orange robes burst into flames.
I'm using exaggeration to describe the extreme heat outside.

Do you know what I'm talking about?"
I'm nudging the interviewer to acknowledge my humorous hyperbole.

"What do you think it's going to be like tonight? " It's gonna be hot and wet! That's nice if you're with a lady, but ain't no good if you're in the jungle!" Thank you, Roosevelt."
I'm ending the interview with another humorous reference to the heat and humidity of Vietnam.

Contributed by Hunter P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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