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 [bad word] back and make me your wife
And as he started to go,
She said Billy keep your head low
Billy, don't be [bad word] 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 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 [bad word] back and make me your wife
And as he started to go,
She said Billy keep your head low
Billy, don't be a [bad word] 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 that letter away......