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

[Verse 1]
E                  E
 Take a message to Mary
    B7                     E
But don't tell her where I am
E                  E
 Take a message to Mary
    B7                 E
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                B  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]
E                  E
 Take a message to Mary
    B7                       E
But don't tell her what I've done
E                        E
Please don't mention the stagecoach
        B7                   E
And the shot from a careless gun
        C#m               G#m
You can tell her I had to change my plans
    C#m            F#      B7
And cancel out the wedding day
    E            G#m        A      E
But please don't mention my lonely cell
      C#m            B C#m
Where I'm gonna pine a-way
  E      B7    E
Until my dying day

[Verse 3]
E                  E
 Take a message to Mary
    B7                     E
But don't tell her all you know
E                     E
My heart's achin' for Mary
     B7               E
Lord knows I miss her so
     C#m                G#m
Just tell her I went to Timbuktu
C#m          F#            B7
Tell her I'm searchin' for gold
        E       G#m         A       E
You can say she better find someone new
   C#m         B  C#m
To cherish and to hold
    E          B7      E
Oh, Lord, this cell is cold

[Coda]
E
Mary
C#m
Ma-a-a-a-ry
    E         B7      E
Oh, Lord this cell is cold