Billy, Don't Be a Hero
1974 · ABC 11435 · USA
- Artist
- Bo Donaldson and The Heywoods
- Title
- Billy, Don't Be a Hero
- Release
- Billy, Don't Be a Hero / Don't Ever Look Back
- Year
- 1974
- Label
- ABC # 11435
- Format
- 7" · Single
- Language
- English
- Country
- USA
- Songwriter
- M. Murray, P.Callander
- Genre
- Pop · Pop
- Primary theme
- Post-War
Annotation
Group formed in 1965 in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. The song "Billy Don't Be a Hero (ABC Records # ABC-11435), an anti-war pop song written by Paper Lace was about the American Civil War - as indicated by the reference to "soldier blue" (the Union Forces) and "ride up" (meaning a soldier on a horse). Moreover, the front cover of the Paper Lace single "Billy Don't Be a Hero" showed a picture of union forces sitting around a campfire. As it was released in 1974, many interpreted it as a Vietnam War song. The Vietnam-era saw a revival of songs about past wars reinterpreted, such as the Civil War, World War Two, and Korea. This version by Bo Donaldson reached # 1 in the Billboard charts on 15 June 1974. (1)
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
About the artist
American pop group formed in Cincinnati, Ohio ('Billy, Don't Be a Hero', 1974). [Source: Wikipedia]