Billy don't be a hero, don't be a fool with your life
Billy don't be a hero, come back and make me your wi-i-ife
And as Billy started to go-o
She said keep your pretty head low-ow-ow-ow
Billy don't be a hero, come back to me-ee
The soldier blues were trapped on a hillside
The battle ragin' all around
The sergeant cried, we've gotta hang on boys
We've gotta hold this piece of ground
I need a volunteer to ride out
And bring us back some extra men
And Billy's hand was up in a moment
Forgettin' all the words she said, she said
Billy don't be a hero, don't be a fool with your li-ife
Billy don't be a hero, come back and make me your wi-i-ife
And as Billy started to go-o
She said keep your pretty head low-ow-ow-ow
Billy don't be a hero, come back to me-ee
I heard his fiancee got a letter
That told how Billy died that day-ay
The letter said he was a hero
She should be proud he died that way
I heard she threw the letter away...
I chose this song because I thought that it expressed the major affects that the war not only has on the soldiers and participants, but also on the civilians and the participant's loved ones. I think that when learning about the war, it is really important to learn about the people that were not so heavily involved, living in this time period. I think the message of this song, is that while it is important to fight for and support your country, it is also important to recognize how it is affecting everyone else around you, especially loved ones. I think that this message expresses one of the many reasons to oppose the war, but this also may provoke others. Other people whom have loved ones in the war, may also relate to how Billy's fiancee is feeling in this song. This could make them want to take action and end the war. I think that this song would make soldiers in the war sad because they would realize that by being in the war, they are hurting their loved ones and it would make people who were at risk of being drafted, most likely not want to leave so they could just be with their loved ones. Also, it would make others, who really agreed with the war, laugh at the song and how desperate Billy's fiancee sounds.
Billy Don't Be a Hero by Paper Lace
The marchin' band came down along main street
The soldier blues fell in behind
I looked across and there I saw Billy
Waiting to go and join the line
And with her head upon his shoulder
His young and lovely fiancee
From where I stood I saw she was cryin'
And through her tears I heard her say
Billy don't be a hero, don't be a fool with your life
Billy don't be a hero, come back and make me your wi-i-ife
And as Billy started to go-o
She said keep your pretty head low-ow-ow-ow
Billy don't be a hero, come back to me-ee
The soldier blues were trapped on a hillside
The battle ragin' all around
The sergeant cried, we've gotta hang on boys
We've gotta hold this piece of ground
I need a volunteer to ride out
And bring us back some extra men
And Billy's hand was up in a moment
Forgettin' all the words she said, she said
Billy don't be a hero, don't be a fool with your li-ife
Billy don't be a hero, come back and make me your wi-i-ife
And as Billy started to go-o
She said keep your pretty head low-ow-ow-ow
Billy don't be a hero, come back to me-ee
I heard his fiancee got a letter
That told how Billy died that day-ay
The letter said he was a hero
She should be proud he died that way
I heard she threw the letter away...
I chose this song because I thought that it expressed the major affects that the war not only has on the soldiers and participants, but also on the civilians and the participant's loved ones. I think that when learning about the war, it is really important to learn about the people that were not so heavily involved, living in this time period. I think the message of this song, is that while it is important to fight for and support your country, it is also important to recognize how it is affecting everyone else around you, especially loved ones. I think that this message expresses one of the many reasons to oppose the war, but this also may provoke others. Other people whom have loved ones in the war, may also relate to how Billy's fiancee is feeling in this song. This could make them want to take action and end the war. I think that this song would make soldiers in the war sad because they would realize that by being in the war, they are hurting their loved ones and it would make people who were at risk of being drafted, most likely not want to leave so they could just be with their loved ones. Also, it would make others, who really agreed with the war, laugh at the song and how desperate Billy's fiancee sounds.
back to 'Songs of the Vietnam Era'