These are the words of a frontier man
Who lost his love when he turned bad.
Take a message to mary
But dont tell here where I am
Take a message to mary
But dont say Im in a jam
You can tell her that I had to see the world
Tell her that my ship set sail
You can say shed 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 her what Ive done
Please, dont 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, dont mention the lonely cell
Where Im gonna pine away, until my dying-day.
Take a message to mary
But dont 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 Im searching for gold
You can say she better find someone new
To cherish and to hold, oh lord, this cell is so cold.