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 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 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.'

Billy don't be a hero
Don't be a fool with your life

I heard his fiancee got a letter
That told how Billy died that day
The letter said that he was hero
She should be proud he died that way
I hear she threw the letter away.