4 4 4 4 -4 5 6 6 5
These are the words of a frontier lad
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Who lost his love when he turned ba-ad
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Take a message to Mary but dont tell her where I am
4 4 4 -4 5 6 5 5 -5 -4 4 4 -3 4
Take a message to Mary but don’t say I’m in a jam
6 6 7 7 -8 7 7 -7 6 6 7 7 7 7 -6 7 -7
You can tell her I had to see the world, tell her that my ship set sail
6 6 7 7 -7 -6 6 -6 -6 6 -4 5 -3” -3” -3” 3 -3”
You can say she better not wait for me but don’t tell her I’m in jail
-6 6 5 5 5 -4 4
Oh, don’t tell her I’m in jail
4 4 4 -4 5 6 5 5 -5 -4 -4 4 -3 4
Take a message to Mary but don’t tell her what I’ve done
4 4 4 -4 5 6 5 5 5 -5 -4 -4 4 -3 4
Please don’t mention the stagecoach and the shot from a careless gun
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You can tell her I had to change my plans and cancel out the wedding day
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But please don’t mention my lonely cell where I’m gonna pine away
-6 6 5 5 -4 4
Until my dying day
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Take a message to Mary but don’t tell her all you know
4 4 4 -4 5 6 5 5 -5 -4 4 -3 4
My heart’s achin’ for Mary, Lord knows I miss her so
6 7 7 -8 7 7 -7 6 6 7 7 7 -6 -6 7 -7
Just tell her I went to Timbuktu, tell her I’m searchin’ for gold
6 6 7 7 -7 -6 6 -6 -6 6 -4 5 -3” -3” 3 -3”
You can say she better find someone new to cherish and to hold
-6 6 5 5 -4 4
Oh, Lord, this cell is cold
6 5 -6 -7 -6 6 5
Mary, Ma-a-a-a-ary
-6 6 5 5 -4 4
Oh, Lord, this cell is cold
