This is a story about Billy and Sue
They were as in love as were any two
And yet, Billy had to die
And when you hear the reason why
You'll hang your head and cry

Billy and Sue met the first day of school
And ever since, lived by the golden rule
Because when you do unto others
What you wouldn't want done to you
You'd have to be a fool

This mutual agreement of love and trust
Made them travel the road to marriage or bust
And when Billy was old enough to take a wife
He was old enough to fight for his country
And its way of life

Sue's letters came every day
Strengthened his cause, they showed him the way
To fight for his country and the girl he loved
That's a soldier's only fate

But, then Billy heard no more from Sue
He was worried sick, but what could he do
The bullets were screamin' as he hugged the ground
And back home, Sue was runnin' round

Billy was getting less and less strong
His hope, his faith was almost gone
And then like a miracle, a letter appeared
Billy tore the letter open and he read
"Dear John"

A look came over Billy that would scare a ghost
A familiar look seen on soldiers, coast to coast
And even though the air was filled with lead
Billy jumped up, they shot him dead

Billy was buried in a faraway grave that read,
"For His County - His Life He Gave
But that epitaph, was only in part
He didn't die from a bullet
But he died, from a broken heart