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
Mary, Ma-a-a-a-ary
Oh, Lord this cell is cold