Billy Don't Be a Hero Billy Don't Be a Hero "Billy Don't Be a Hero" is a 1974 pop song that was first a UK hit for Paper Lace and then, some months later, a US hit for Bo Donaldson and The Heywoods. The song was written and composed by two British songwriters, Mitch Murray and Peter Callander. Because the song was released in 1974, it was associated by some listeners with the Vietnam War, though the war to which it actually refers is never identified in the lyrics. It has been suggested that the drum pattern, references to a marching band leading soldiers in
Billy Don't Be a Hero Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack," the episode "K'nuckles, Don't Be a Hero" is named after the song. In "The Justice Friends" (Cartoon Network, 1996), Major Glory says "Billy, don't be a hero!" to William, Valhallen's pet goat, when it jumps to save Krunk from the attack of Valhallen's living clothes. In an episode of "ALF," the title character, Gordon "Alf" Shumway(voice by Paul Fusco), uses the line "Willie, don't be a hero, don't be a fool with your life," referring to the head of the household, Wille Tanner(Max Wright), after Willie comes up with a bad idea. The Doug Anthony Allstars