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 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 raging all around
The sergeant cried 'We've got to hang on, boys'
'We've got to hold this piece a'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 Billy started to go, she said 'Keep your pretty 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 the letter away