The song "Take a Message to Mary" by The Everly Brothers is about a young man who has made mistakes and lost the love of his life, Mary. He asks someone to deliver a message to Mary, but he doesn't want them to reveal his current situation. The lyrics suggest that the narrator is in jail, which is why he doesn't want Mary to know where he is. He asks the messenger not to mention the specific details of his wrongdoing, such as the stagecoach incident or the accidental gunshot. The protagonist regrets his actions and acknowledges the consequences he is facing. The narrator wants Mary to believe that he had to leave town to explore the world or go on a journey. He even suggests that she should move on and find someone new to love. The protagonist seems resigned to his fate, as he describes his lonely cell and says it's cold. Throughout the song, the narrator expresses his longing for Mary and how much he misses her. He asks the messenger to let Mary know that his heart aches for her. He tells them to say that he went to Timbuktu, a place associated with remoteness, in search of fortune. He hopes that Mary will find happiness with someone else while he remains in his desolate cell. Overall, "Take a Message to Mary" is a poignant ballad about a man's regret for his actions, his longing for a lost love, and his acceptance of the consequences he faces.
