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