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 crying
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 raging all around 
The sergeant cried, We've got to 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 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