These are the words of a frontier lad

Who lost his love when he turned ba-ad



Take a message to Mary but dont tell er where I am

Take a message to Mary but dont say Im in a jam

You can tell her I had to see the world or tell er that my ship set sail

You can say she better not wait for me but dont tell her Im in jail

Oh, dont tell her Im in jail



Take a message to Mary but dont tell er what Ive done

Please dont 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 dont mention my lonely cell where Im gonna pine away

Until my dying day



Take a message to Mary but dont tell er all you know

My hearts achin for Mary, Lord knows I miss her so

Just tell her I went to Timbuktu, tell her Im searchin for gold

You can say she better find someone new to cherish and to hold

Oh, Lord, this cell is cold



Ma-ary, Ma-a-a-a-ary

Oh, Lord this cell is cold