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 'er 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 'er 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 'er 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 'er all you know 
My heart's achin' for Mary
Lord knows I miss her so 

Just tell her I went to Timbuctu
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 

Mary, Mary 
Oh, Lord this cell is cold
