The marching band came down along Main Street
The soldier blues fell in behind
From where I stood, 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 crying
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 they started to go
She said "keep your pretty head low"
"Billy don't be a hero, come back to me."
The soldier blues are 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
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 they 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.
