Song Lyrics

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"
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

Mitch Murray, Peter Callander