Billy Don't Be a Hero
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| "Billy - Don't Be a Hero" | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
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| Single by Paper Lace | ||
| from the album Paper Lace | ||
| B-side(s) | "Celia" | |
| Released | 1974 | |
| Format | 7" single | |
| Genre | Pop protest song | |
| Length | 3:33 | |
| Label | Mercury | |
| Writer(s) | Mitch Murray, Peter Callander | |
| Chart positions | ||
| Paper Lace singles chronology | ||
| Billy - Don't Be a Hero (1974) |
The Night Chicago Died (1974) |
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"Billy Don't Be a Hero" is a 1974 anti-war pop song by Paper Lace and was also recorded by Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods. It was written by Mitch Murray and Peter Callander.
Because the song was released in 1974, it is often associated with the Vietnam War (although repeated reference in the lyrics to "the soldier blues" indicates Billy may have been a Union soldier in the American Civil War). A young woman is distraught that her fiancé chooses to leave the area with an Army contingent passing through the town, and go with them to fight. She laments,
- "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 wife!"
- And as Billy started to go, she said, "Keep your pretty head low!"
- "Billy, don't be a hero! Come back to me!"
The song goes on to describe how Billy is killed in action in a pitched battle after volunteering to ride out and seek reinforcements. In the end, the woman throws away the regret letter notifying her of Billy's "heroic" death.
[edit] Chart performances
Paper Lace's version of "Billy, Don't Be a Hero" hit number one on the UK singles chart, and was released in the United States at the same time as Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods' interpretation. Whereas Paper Lace had the chart-topper in the UK, their version stalled at number ninety-six on the Billboard Hot 100 and Bo Donaldson went to number one. Paper Lace then had a U.S. number-one later in the year with "The Night Chicago Died".
| Preceded by "Band on the Run" by Paul McCartney and Wings |
Billboard Hot 100 number one single (Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods version) June 29, 1974 |
Succeeded by "Sundown" by Gordon Lightfoot |
| Preceded by "Jealous Mind" by Alvin Stardust |
UK Singles Chart number one single (Paper Lace version) March 16, 1974 |
Succeeded by "Seasons In The Sun" by Terry Jacks |
