Billy, Don't Be A Hero

by Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods
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How to Play This Song

Learn a simple version, phrase by phrase: the melody, then easy chords.

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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 — Falling Notes Piano Tutorial

10 people have learned this song

Watch "Billy, Don't Be A Hero" by Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods in falling notes style — like Synthesia. Color-coded notes fall onto the keyboard in real time. Practice left hand, right hand, or both. Key of F, 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”

Can I learn "Billy, Don't Be A Hero" with falling notes like Synthesia?
Yes — Falling Notes mode shows colored note shapes dropping onto a virtual keyboard, the same visual style as Synthesia or piano-tile games. Each note's column matches the piano key you press. Works for "Billy, Don't Be A Hero" with hands-separate practice in F at 100 BPM.
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 F 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.
Can I practice left and right hand separately for "Billy, Don't Be A Hero"?
Yes! Our Top Down mode lets you isolate the left hand (bass clef), right hand (treble clef), or play both together. This makes it easy to master "Billy, Don't Be A Hero" one hand at a time before combining them.
What is falling notes style for "Billy, Don't Be A Hero"?
Falling notes (also known as Synthesia or piano waterfall) shows color-coded rectangles falling from the top of the screen onto a virtual keyboard. Each note's position matches the piano key you need to press. "Billy, Don't Be A Hero" is in the key of F at 100 BPM.