Intro:
        E
      These are the words of a frontier lad
          G#m                B7             E
      Who lost his love when he turned bad

Verse 1:
       E
      Take a message to Mary
           B7
      But don't tell her where I am
       E
      Take a message to Mary
           B7
      But don't say I'm in a jam
              C#m               G#m
      You can tell her I had to see the world
         C#m               F#       B7
      Or tell her that my ship set sail
               E      G#m         A       E
      You can say she better not wait for me
           C#m
      But don't tell her I'm in jail
           E              B7     E
      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 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

Verse 3:

      Take a message to Mary

      But don't tell her all you know

      My heart's achin' for Mary

      Lord knows I miss her so

      Just tell her I went to Timbuktu

      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

Coda:
       E   C#m
      Mary, Ma-a-a-a-ary
           E         B7      E
      Oh, Lord this cell is cold