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Vocabulary from Bo Donaldson and The Heywoods: 'Billy, Don't Be a Hero'.
The marchin' band came down along main street
The soldier blues fell in behind
I looked across and there I saw Billy
Waiting to go and join the line
And with her head upon his shoulder
His young and lovely fiancee
From where i stood i saw she was cryin'
And through her tears I heard her say
Billy, don't be a hero, don't be a fool with your life
Billy, don't be a hero, come back and make me your wife
And as he started to go,
She said Billy keep your head low
Billy, don't be hero, come back to me.
he soldier blues were trapped on a hillside
The battle raging all around
The sergeant cried, We've got to hang on boys!"
We've got to hold this piece of ground
I need a volunteer to ride up,
And bring us back some extra men,
And Billy's hand was up in a moment
Forgettin' all the words she said
She said
Billy, don't be a hero, don't be a fool with your life
Billy, don't be a hero, come back and make me your wife
And as he started to go,
She said Billy keep your head low
Billy, don't be a hero, come back to me.
I heard his fiancee got a letter
That told how Billy died that day
The letter said that he was a hero
She should be proud he died that way
I heard she threw that letter away......
the
Determinerðə
the definite article
The sun is hot.
Used before a noun to refer to a specific thing already known or mentioned.
marching band
Nounˈmɑrtʃɪŋˌbænd
a group of musicians who play instruments while marching
The marching band is loud during the parade.
Common for school, parade, and sports-event groups that perform music while moving in formation.
come down
Verbto fall or move downward; to become lower
After the storm, several old branches came down in the road.
This phrasal verb can describe physical falling, movement to a lower place, or a decrease in price or level. Here it means the branches fell.
along
Prepositionəˈlɒŋ
by the side of; in a line with
We walked along the river.
Used to describe movement in a constant direction next to something long like a road, river, or path.
main street
Nounˌmeɪn ˈstriːt
the principal street in a town, often where shops and businesses are
The parade filled the main street with music on Saturday morning.
Main street is common in North American English for a town's central business street, even when the street has another official name.
soldier
Nounˈsoʊldʒər
a person who serves in an army
The soldier returned home after the war.
Generally refers to any member of an army. In some contexts, it specifically refers to a private or someone who is not an officer.
blues
Nounbluːz
a type of slow, sad music; a feeling of sadness
The band played some slow blues music.
Originally from the southern US. Also used informally to describe a state of depression or sadness ('the blues').
fall in
Verbto collapse inward; to move into line or formation
The old roof could fall in after the storm.
For a roof, wall, or ceiling, fall in means to collapse inward. It can also be used for soldiers moving into formation.
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