Billy, Don't Be a Hero

The marchin' band came down along Maine 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 raging all around The sergeant cried, we've got to 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