Paper Lace - Billy Don't Be a Hero
Paper Lace in C, Bo Donaldson in Bb, I play in D capo 3
Lyrics and chords here follow the Bo Donaldson version
Vox on 5 1 1 1 of the chord on “the marching band”
Em7The marchin’ band came A7down along Main Street
DThe soldier blues fell in behind
Em7I looked across and A7there I saw Billy
DWaiting to go and join the line
Vox up to the 5 on “and”
Em7And with her head uA7pon his shoulder
Em7His young and lovely A7fiancee
Back down to the regular melody
Em7From where I stood I A7saw she was cryin’
Em7And through her tears I Gheard her A7say
DBilly, don’t be a Dmaj7hero, don’t be a Em7fool with your life
A7Billy, don’t be a hero, come back and Dmake me your wife
And aDs he started to D7go, she said, GBilly keep your head Gmlow
DBilly, don’t be Em7hero, Acome back to Dme
D
Em7The soldier blues were A7trapped on a hillside
DThe battle raging all around
Em7The sergeant cried we’ve A7got to hang on boys
DWe’ve got to hold this piece of ground
Em7I need a volunA7teer to ride up
Em7And bring us back some A7extra men
Em7And Billy’s hand was A7up in a moment
Em7Forgettin’ all the Gwords she A7said
Original changes hey here, I don’t, it’s a silly key change
DBilly, don’t be a Dmaj7hero, don’t be a Em7fool with your life
A7Billy, don’t be a hero, come back and Dmake me your wife
And aDs he started to D7go, she said, GBilly keep your head Gmlow
DBilly, don’t be Em7hero, Acome back to Dme
D
Let ring
Em7I heard his fiancA7ee got a letter
Dmaj7That told how Billy dBm7ied that day
Em7The letter said that A7he was a hero
Dmaj7She should be proud he Bm7died that way
Em7I heard she threw that Asus4letter AaDway