Mary, sweet Mary Oh Mary, sweet Mary Oh Mary, sweet Mary Oh Mary, sweet Mary Nineteen hundred and twenty-three, when the judge took my liberty away from me In nineteen hundred and twenty-three, when the judge took my liberty away from me I left my wife wringin' her hands and cryin', sayin', "Lord have mercy on that man of mine" I left my wife wringin' her hands and cryin', sayin', "Lord have mercy on that man of mine" Told my wife before I left the land, if I never no more see her do the best she can I told my wife before I left the land, if I never no more see her do the best she can Goodbye, Mary, ooo ooo ooo Oh Mary, ooo ooo ooo Had the Governor Neff like you got me, I'd a-wake up in the mornin', I'd set you free If I had the Governor Neff like you got me, I'd a-wake up in the mornin', I would set you free Goin' back to Mary, sweet Mary Oh Mary