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 fiancée
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"
The Soldier Blues were trapped on a hillside
The battle ragin' all around
The sergeant cried, "We've gotta hang on boys"
"We've gotta 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
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 Billy started to go, she said, "Keep your pretty head low"
"Billy don't be a hero, come back to me"
I heard his fiancée 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