Lyrics:

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 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've 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
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 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