Lyrics:

The marching 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 fiancée
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 Billy started to go, she said
'Keep your pretty head low
Billy, don't be a hero
Come back to me'
The soldier blues were trapped on a hillside
The battle ragin' all around
The sergeant cried 'We've gotta hang on, boys
We gotta hold this piece of ground
I need a volunteer to ride out
And bring us back some extra men'
And Billy's hand was up in a moment
Forgetting 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 Billy started to go, she said
'Keep your pretty head low
Billy, don't be a hero
Come back to me'
I heard his fiancée 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 the letter away