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 hearts achin' for Mary Lord knows I miss her so
Just tell her I went to Timbuktu Tell her I'm searchin' for gold You can say she better find someone new To cherish and to hold, oh Lord, this cell is cold