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: "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 raging 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 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

• Artist:Bo Donaldson and The Heywoods