Billy, Don't Be A Hero

by Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods
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Lyrics

The march ing band came (C7)down a long Main street, the sol dier blues fell in be hind.

I looked a cross and (C7)there I saw Bil ly, wait ing to go and join the line.

And with her head up (C7)on his shoul der,

his young and love ly (C7)fi an cée,

from where I stood I (C7)saw she was cry ing, and through her tears I (C)heard her say; She said, (F)Bil ly, don’t be a (Fmaj7)he ro, don’t be a (Gm)fool with your life.

(C7)Bil ly, don’t be a he ro, come back and (F)make me your wife.”

And as they start ed to go

she said, (Bb)“Bil ly, keep your head (Bbm)low.

(F)Bil ly, don’t be a (Bb)he ro, (C7)come back to (F)me.”

The sol dier blues were (C7)trapped on a hill side, the bat tle rag ing all a round.

The ser geant cried, “We’ve (C7)got to hang on, boys, we’ve got to hold this piece of ground.

I need a vol un (C7)teer to ride up

and bring us back some (C7)ex tra men.”

And Bil ly’s hand was (C7)up in a mo ment, for get ting all the (C)words she said.

She said, (F)Bil ly, don’t be a (Fmaj7)he ro, don’t be a (Gm)fool with your life.

(C7)Bil ly, don’t be a he ro, come back and (F)make me your wife.”

And as they start ed to go

she said, (Bb)“Bil ly, keep your head (Bbm)low.

(F)Bil ly, don’t be a (Bb)he ro, (C7)come back to (F)me.”

I heard she threw that (Gm7)let ter

a (F)way.

Billy, Don't Be A Hero — Simple Sheet Music

1 person has learned this song

"Billy, Don't Be A Hero" in simplified sheet music format — the bridge between beginner modes and real sheet music. Color-coded notes with lyrics scrolling horizontally. Perfect for learning to read music. Key of Bb, 100 BPM.

Tip: Use the speed control to practice at 70% tempo first. Focus on tricky chord transitions before attempting the full arrangement.

About “Billy, Don't Be A Hero

How does Simplified Piano Arrangement differ from full sheet music for "Billy, Don't Be A Hero"?
Simplified Arrangement keeps the melody and chords on a simplified staff with lyrics, color-coded for easy recognition. It's a learner-bridge between Beginner mode and the classic engraved Sheet Music — same song, less visual density.
What key is "Billy, Don't Be A Hero" by Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods played in?
Billy, Don't Be A Hero is arranged in the key of Bb on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
What's the tempo (BPM) of "Billy, Don't Be A Hero"?
The arrangement plays at 100 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "Billy, Don't Be A Hero" easy to play on piano?
This is a medium-difficulty arrangement. Most players can learn it within a few practice sessions using the speed control.
Can I download sheet music for "Billy, Don't Be A Hero"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "Billy, Don't Be A Hero"?
"Billy, Don't Be A Hero" was originally performed by Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What chords are used in "Billy, Don't Be A Hero"?
This arrangement uses 11 chords: Bb, Bbm, Bbmaj7, C, C7, Dm7, F, F7, +3 more.
Is Simple Sheet good for learning to read sheet music?
Yes! Simple Sheet bridges the gap between beginner color-coded modes and traditional notation. Notes are displayed on a simplified staff with colors, lyrics, and chords — helping you build music reading skills gradually while still enjoying "Billy, Don't Be A Hero". Key of Bb, 100 BPM.
What's the difference between Simple Sheet and Lead Sheet?
Simple Sheet shows a more streamlined, horizontally scrolling view with color-coded notes on a staff and lyrics below — like a simplified version of real sheet music. Lead Sheet shows melody with chord symbols above and full lyrics. Simple Sheet is the next step toward reading traditional notation.

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