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 a hero, come back to me

The 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 ...