I don't suppose you had fire and rage
I don't suppose you had really much to say
When it came to leaving you knew your way
You left me standing in the San Francisco Bay
She had songs of being hard up and being blue
She had better words than the likes of you and me
Tho I never had a problem with her low down friends
I knew that's who she'd end up with in the end

Oh, Mary Ellen, please gone stay to the morning
Mary Ellen, please stay
You need help, let's go get help today

She went south to see an old friend of mine
She heard he never got short of a nickel or an dime
And he don't know her but he's bound to take her in
'Cause she's an old friend of mine
It wasn't long till he fell deep in her eyes
He said Mary Ellen, won't you please be my bride
And he don't know it, but she's leaving tonight
She'll be gone by the Sun rise

Mary Ellen, please gone stay to the morning
Mary Ellen, please stay
You need help, let's go get help today