the marching band came down along main street
the soldiers knew to stand 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 & 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 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 hill side
the battle raging all around
the seargent 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 billys 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 billy started to go
she said keep your pretty 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 he was a hero
she should be proud he died that way
i heard she threw the letter away