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 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 he started to go, she said, "Billy, keep your 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 got to hang on, boys" "We got to hold this piece of 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, "Billy, keep your 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