Billy, don’t be a hero (1974) (video) (midi)

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1. The marchin' band came down along main street,

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the soldier blues fell in behind.

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I looked across and there I saw Billy,

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waiting to go and join the line,

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and with her head upon his shoulder

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his young and lovely fiancée.

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From where I stood I saw she was cryin',

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and through her tears I heard her say :

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Billy, don't be a hero, don't be a fool with your life !

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Billy, don't be a hero, come back and make me your wife !

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And as Billy started to go, she said, keep your pretty head low,

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Billy, don't be hero, come back to me !

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2. The soldier blues were trapped on a hillside,

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the battle raging all around,

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the sergeant cried, “We've got to hang on boys!

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We've got to hold this piece of ground !

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I need a volunteer to ride up,

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and bring us back some extra men.”

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And Billy's hand was up in a moment,

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forgettin' all the words she said...

(orig. moves up half a note to capo 1st here)

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+ She said : + CHORUS

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3. I heard his fiancée got a letter

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that told how Billy died that day.

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The letter said that he was a hero,

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she should be proud he died that way.

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I heard she threw the letter away.

+ C - Em - Dm - G - G7 - C (3x) ….

(orig. = no capo; midi = capo 4th)    (Paper Lace)