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 he started to go she said "Keep your pretty head lo-o-ow"
"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 got to hold this piece a\'ground"
"I need a volunteer to ride up"
"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 he started to go she said "Keep your pretty head lo-o-ow"
"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 that letter away