Take a Message to Mary

These are the words of a frontier lad

Who lost his love when he turned bad

Take a message to Mary

But don't tell her where I am

Take a message to Mary

But don't say I'm in a jam

You can tell her I had to see the world

Or tell her that my ship set sail

You can say she better not wait for me

But don't tell her I'm in jail

Oh, don't tell her I'm in jail

Take a message to Mary

But don't tell her what I've done

Please don't mention the stagecoach

And the shot from a careless gun

You can tell her I had to change my plans

And cancel out the wedding day

But please don't mention my lonely cell

Where I'm gonna pine away

Until my dying day

Take a message to Mary

But don't tell her all you know

My heart's aching for Mary

Lord knows I miss her so

Just tell her I went to Timbuktu

Tell her I'm searching for gold

You can say she better find someone new

To cherish and to hold

Oh, Lord, this cell is cold

Mary, Mary

Oh, Lord this cell is cold