Billy Don't Be a Hero to ride out and seek reinforcements. (This suggests mounted infantry and a lack of modern two-way radio communications.) In the end, the heartbroken woman throws away the official letter notifying her of Billy's "heroic" death. Paper Lace's version of "Billy Don't Be a Hero" reached No. 1 in the UK Singles Chart on 16 March 1974, and did likewise in Australia, where it spent eight weeks at the top spot. Thereafter, Bo Donaldson's and the Heywoods's version reached No. 1 in the U.S. on the "Billboard" Hot 100 on 15 June 1974, but was dubbed into French for Canada. The
(I'd Be) A Legend in My Time recorded a second later version which was featured on his 1967 tribute album to Gibson, "Roy Orbison Sings Don Gibson". A 1973 rendition by Sammy Davis Jr. became an Adult Contemporary charts, reaching #33 in Canada and #29 U.S. The song was recorded by Ronnie Milsap and released in November 1974 as the lead single from his album "A Legend in My Time". This was Milsap's sixth country hit and his third number one. The single stayed at number one for a single week and spent a total of ten weeks within the top 40. Milsap's recording altered the song