They found Mary Bellows cuffed to the bed With a rag in her mouth and a bullet in her head O, poor Mary Bellows She'd grown up hungry, she'd grown up poor She left her home in Arkansas O, poor Mary Bellows She wanted to see the deep blue sea She travelled across Tennessee O, poor Mary Bellows She met a man along the way He introduced himself as Richard Slade O, poor Mary Bellows Poor Mary thought that she might die When she saw the ocean for the first time O, poor Mary Bellows She checked into a cheap little place Richard Slade carried in her old suitcase O, poor Mary Bellows "I'm a good girl, sir" she said to him I couldn't possibly permit you in O, poor Mary Bellows Slade tipped his head and winked his eye And turned away without goodbye O, poor Mary Bellows She sat on her bed and thought of home With the sea breeze whistling all alone O, poor Mary Bellows In hope and loneliness she crossed the floor And undid the latch on the front door O, poor Mary Bellows They found her the next day Cuffed to the bed A rag in her mouth and a bullet in her head O, poor Mary Bellows So mothers keep your girls at home Don't let them journey out alone Tell them this world is full of danger To shun the company of strangers O, poor Mary Bellows O, poor Mary Bellows