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