Album: 40 Golden Oldies, Volume 1
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 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 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 
Forgetting all the words she said. She said: 
Billy don't be a hero 
don't be a fool with your life. . . . 
I hard 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.