A5 D5 The marchin' band came down along main street G5 The soldier blues fell in behind A5 D5 I looked across and there I saw Billy E5 G5 Waiting to go and join the line A5 D5 And with her head upon his shoulder A5 D5 His young and lovely fiancee A5 D5 From where I stood I saw she was cryin' A5 D5 And through her tears I heard her say G5 A5 Billy, don't be a hero, don't be a fool with your life A5 G5 Billy, don't be a hero, come back and make me your wife G5 G5 And as he started to go, A5 C5 She said Billy keep your head low G5 D5 G5 Billy, don't be hero, come back to me. A5 D5 The soldier blues were trapped on a hillside G5 The battle raging all around A5 D5 The sergeant cried, We've got to hang on boys!" E5 G5 We've got to hold this piece of ground A5 D5 I need a volunteer to ride up, A5 D5 And bring us back some extra men, A5 D5 And Billy's hand was up in a moment A5 D5 D5 Forgettin' all the words she said...she said CHORUS A5 D5 I heard his fiancee got a letter G5 That told how Billy died that day A5 D5 The letter said that he was a hero E5 G5 She should be proud he died that way E5 D5 G5 I heard she threw the letter away