Take a Message to Mary

[Intro] These are the words of a frontier lad Who lost his love when he turned bad [Verse 1] Take a message to Mary But don't tell here where I am Take a message to Mary But don't say I'm in a jam You can tell her that I had to see the world Tell her that my ship set sail You can say she'd better not wait for me But don't tell her I'm in jail, oh don't tell her I'm in jail [Verse 2] Take a message to Mary But don't tell her what I've done Please, don't mention the stage coach And the shot from a carried gun You better tell her that I had to change my plans And cancel out the wedding-day But please, don't mention the lonely cell Where I'm gonna pine away, until my dying-day [Verse 3] Take a message to Mary But don't tell her all you know My heart is aching for Mary Lord know I miss her so Just tell her that I went to Timbukto 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 so cold