Billy Don't Be a Hero
Paper Lace Lyrics
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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 fiancée
From where I stood I saw she was cryin'
"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 soldier blues were trapped on a hillside
The battle ragin' all around
The sergeant cried "We've gotta hang on, boys
We 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
Forgetting all the words she said
She said: "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"
I heard his fiancée got a letter
That told how Billy died that day
The letter said that he was a hero
She should be proud he died that way
I heard she threw the letter away
The lyrics of Paper Lace's song "Billy Don't Be a Hero" tell the story of a young soldier named Billy who has decided to join the military and go to war, much to the dismay of his fiancée, who pleads with him not to risk his life. As the song progresses, Billy volunteers for a dangerous mission and ultimately dies, leaving his fiancée to cope with the news of his death.
The opening lines introduce the marching band and the soldiers who are heading off to war, while also setting the scene for Billy and his fiancée. The visualization of her crying and pleading with him not to go adds an emotional depth to the song that tugs at the heartstrings of the listener. When Billy volunteers for the dangerous mission, he seals his own fate and his fiancée's worst fears are realized when she receives the letter informing her of his death.
Overall, the lyrics of "Billy Don't Be a Hero" are a poignant reminder that war is not just a political conflict, but a deeply personal and emotional one that affects the lives of individuals and their loved ones in profound ways.
Line by Line Meaning
The marching band came down along Main Street
A group of musicians started to walk along the main street.
The soldier blues fell in behind
The soldiers started to follow the marching band.
I looked across and there I saw Billy
The singer observed a person named Billy.
Waiting to go and join the line
Billy was waiting to join the soldiers.
And with her head upon his shoulder
Billy's fiancée was leaning on his shoulder.
His young and lovely fiancée
Billy's fiancée is young and beautiful.
From where I stood I saw she was cryin'
The singer saw Billy's fiancée shedding tears.
And through her tears I heard her say:
Despite her tears, Billy's fiancée spoke to him.
"Billy, don't be a hero
Billy's fiancée advised him not to be reckless.
Don't be a fool with your life
She warned him not to risk his life.
Billy, don't be a hero
She repeated her advice not to be a hero.
Come back and make me your wife"
The artist urged Billy to come back to her after the war.
And as Billy started to go, she said
As Billy was leaving, she spoke to him.
"Keep your pretty head low
She advised him to stay safe and avoid danger.
Billy, don't be a hero
She repeated her advice not to be a hero.
Come back to me"
She reiterated her desire for Billy to come back to her after the war.
The soldier blues were trapped on a hillside
The soldiers were stuck on a hillside.
The battle ragin' all around
The fight was going on everywhere around them.
The sergeant cried "We've gotta hang on, boys
The sergeant urged his soldiers to keep fighting.
We gotta hold this piece of ground
The sergeant said they must keep control of where they were standing.
I need a volunteer to ride out
The sergeant asked for someone to go out and get help.
And bring us back some extra men"
He asked the volunteer to come back with more soldiers.
And Billy's hand was up in a moment
Billy volunteered without hesitation.
Forgetting all the words she said
He forgot the advice his fiancée gave him.
She said: "Billy, don't be a hero
The singer reminded the listeners of what Billy's fiancée said.
Don't be a fool with your life"
She warned him again not to risk his life.
Billy don't be a hero
She repeated her plea for Billy not to act as a hero.
Come back and make me your wife"
The artist once again urged Billy to come back to her after the war.
And as Billy started to go, she said
As Billy was leaving, she spoke to him again.
"Keep your pretty head low
She advised him to stay safe and avoid danger.
Billy, don't be a hero
She reiterated her advice not to be a hero.
Come back to me"
She expressed her desire for Billy to come back to her after the war one last time.
I heard his fiancée got a letter
Someone heard that Billy's fiancée received a letter.
That told how Billy died that day
The letter gave the news that Billy died in the battle.
The letter said that he was a hero
The letter mentioned that Billy was a hero.
She should be proud he died that way
The letter said that she should feel proud of how he died.
I heard she threw the letter away
Someone heard that Billy's fiancée threw away the letter.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Mitch Murray, Peter Callander
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@nadiashireensiddiqi
Firdous wishes her misbehaviour is ever, at all warranted or anything akin to Will Smith’s half chivalrous provoked slap. She’s more like Yolanda Hadid, victim blaming Zayn Malik because she wanted her blonde daughter to have a white husband. Firdous and Yolanda are both manly female bullies who feel entitled to violently attack both men and women because of an imagined sense of N**i ethnic superiority.
Will Smith was more like Ted decking the creep who stole Tracy’s band in the last Barney and Robin wedding episode of How I Met Your Mother.
Robin D. Everson Bah Will Smith barely touched the Everybody Hates Chris’ star and this was a slow burn reaction to how Chris has been picking on Jada for her Alopecia in public and private from at least 2016; for at least 6 yrs and Jada was welling up a little bit and that triggered her husband’s chivalry.
It’s weird, Richard Gere violently decked Jason Alexander in Pretty Woman and since then Jason faced violent attacks from Julia Roberts’ fans and dejection from women who really thought he was a skeeze and Richard was and is still hailed as a beloved hero while Will Smith actually stood up for his wife and Alopecia sufferers in general, barely touched Chris and is being demonised.
O.J. Simpson violently k*ll** NS and was acquitted and is still beloved by his fans et al.
But how dare William have a slow burn reaction to Jada’s getting chronically hurt and tearing up a wee bit??
And he barely finger tipped the bully’s face. Jason was punched repeatedly.
Billy don’t be a hero 🙅🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️
@sundarmann6167
Lyrics that tell a story-70s are indeed the pinnacle for music
@jackiesharp669
Your granddad was a great drummer in a absolutely fabulous band,and what deep and beautiful lyrics.
@SashyGryphyth
I was very young when I first heard this song. Eventually old enough to really hear the words, but still very young, I actually remember it made me cry. Even then I could understand the cost of a life and value of love. I can feel my inner child remember.
I have been so very fortunate in my life, and this isn't lost on me.
This song is timeless. It keeps going to keep showing aspects of our humanity we shouldn't forget, lest we lose ourselves entirely. We will have to reconcile these aspects eventually.
@donnashore5910
another great song by Paperlace that actually tells a story like The Night Chicago Died..oh how happy to hear this again..first time I was 20, now I am 62!! Woo Hoo!! Can't beat the songs of the 60's and 70's!!
@GavinMaGrath
Are you still around? I heard the night Chicago died about 60 times in my life and never heard of Paper Lace! Being a music buff of sorts, that stunned me. I also didn't know they did Billy don't be a hero.
@philipnorris6542
Keep on rocking, Donna.
@albertodf1234
2022 and still loving this true classic
@ilonajurecska2503
Yes!🌟
@juliewheatley8411
What a classic loved it when I was a kid . One sing I can never ever have enough of
@catherinebrodie3067
Beautiful old song brings back lots of memories from the 70s I'm 67 & I still love hearing this song.❤♥️