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 fiance
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 he started to go she said Billy keep your 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 sargent 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 he started to go she said Billy keep your head low
Billy don't be a hero, come back to me

I heard his fiance 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...