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