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 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 Billy started to go she said "Keep your pretty head low"
Billy don't be a hero "Come back to me"
Thesoldier blues were trapped on a hillside
The battle ragin' all around
The sergeant cried "We've gotta hang on boys

Wegotta hold this piece of ground
I need a volunteer to ride out
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
I hard his fiancee got a letter
That told how Billy died that day
The letter said that he was a kero
She should be proud he died that way
I heard she threw fhe letter away