Billy Don’t Be A Hero

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