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 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 ragin' all around
The sergeant cried, "We've got to hang on, boys"
"We 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
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 he started to go she said, "Billy, keep your 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