Billy, Don't Be A Hero

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.