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 hero
She should be proud he died that way
I heard she threw fhe letter away.
