She'd grown up hungry, she'd grown up poor
She left her home in Arkansas
She wanted to see the deep blue sea
She traveled across Tennessee
She met a man along the way
He introduced himself as Richard Slade

Poor Mary thought that she might die
When she saw the ocean for the first time
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
Slade tipped his hat and winked his eye
And turned away without goodbye

She sat on her bed and thought of home
With the sea breeze whistling all alone
In hope and loneliness she crossed the floor
And undid the latch on her front door

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 all alone
Tell them this world is full of danger
And to shun the company of strangers
O poor Mary Bellows
O poor Mary Bellows