Who lost his love when he turned ba-ad

 Take a message to Mary but don?t tell ?er 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 ?er 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 but don?t tell ?er 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

 Take a message to Mary but don?t tell ?er 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

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