IN CUMBERLAND KENTUCKY ON A COOL HOT EVENING
BILLY LAY IN LOVE WITH MARRIANNE
SHE WAS A RICH JUDGE'S DAUGHTER, HE WAS A SON OF A MINER
BUT THAT NIGHT THEIR LOVE WAS MORE THAN THEY COULD STAND

THE JUDGE SAID TO HIS DAUGHTER, THAT SON OF THAT COAL MINER
IS SOMEONE YOU'D DO WELL TO LEAVE ALONE
SHE KNEW HER DAD SO WELL, SHE KNEW SHE COULDN'T TELL
BUT THE TRUTH WAS BOUND TO SHOW BEFORE TOO LONG
THEIR LOVE HAD STARTED GROWING ON ITS OWN

YOU CAN'T OUT RUN THE LONG ARM OF THE LAW
NO, YOU CAN'T OUT RUN THE LONG ARM OF THE LAW

BILLY PLACED HIS HAND ON MARY AND HE FELT THE BABY'S MOVING
KISSED HER AND SAID I'LL SEE YOU WHEN I CAN
THE JUDGE HAD MADE A PROMISE WHEN HE CAUGHT UP WITH BILLY
HE'D SENT HIM FAR AWAY FROM MARIANNE

THE WHOLE TOWN KNEW HE'D DO IT TOO MANY TIMES HE'D PROVED IT
TO AT LEAST A HUNDRED MEN BEHIND THE WALL

HE'D SMILED BEHIND THAT FROWN AND WHEN HE BROUGHT THAT GAVEL DOWN
HE CALLED HIMSELF THE LONG ARM OF THE LAW
AND HE'D SET HIS MIND ON SEEING BILLY FALL

IN A HOT HUMID MINE SHACK A MID-WHITE PULLED THE SHEET BACK
AND PLACED COOL DAMP TOWEL ON MARIANNE
BILLY'S EYES WERE WIDE WITH WONDER FROM THE SPELL HE WAS UNDER
WHEN SHE PLACED THE NEW BORN BABY IN HIS HANDS

HE DIDN'T HEAR THE SIREN, JUST A BABY'S CRYING
THAT MIRACLE OF LOVE WAS ALL HE SAW

WHEN THE DOOR CAME CRASHING DOWN AND BILLY TURNED AROUND
HE FELT THE HEART AND SOUL INSIDE HIM FALL
HE STOOD FACE TO FACE WITH THE LONG ARM OF THE LAW

YOU CAN'T OUT RUN THE LONG ARM OF THE LAW
NO, YOU CAN'T OUT RUN THE LONG ARM OF THE LAW
YOU CAN HIDE OUT FOR A WHILE, HE SAYS WITH A SMILE
BUT YOU CAN'T OUT RUN THE LONG ARM OF THE LAW

SEEMED LIKE EVERYBODY DOWN IN CUMBERLAND KENTUCKY
CAME OUT THAT DAY TO SEE POOR BILLY'S TRIAL
THE COURT WAS CALLED TO ORDER, THERE SAT THE JUDGE'S DAUGHTER
SHE LOOKED SO PROUD, HOLDING BILLY'S CHILD

WHEN THEY BROUGHT BILLY TO HIM, THE JUDGE JUST LOOK RIGHT THRU HIM
AS HE HELD THAT HOLY BIBLE IN HIS HAND AND HE SMILED AT HIS GRANDSON
THEN HIS EYES CUT BACK TO BILLY
AND SAID I THINK THIS TIME THE LAW WILL UNDERSTAND
SON, I SENTENCE YOU TO LIFE WITH MARIANNE

YOU CAN'T OUT RUN THE LONG ARM OF THE LAW
NO, YOU CAN'T OUT RUN THE LONG ARM OF THE LAW
HE SAID TO BILLY WITH A SMILE, I KNOW YOU HIDE OUT FOR A WHILE
AH BUT YOU CAN'T OUT RUN THE LONG ARM OF THE LAW
NO YOU CAN'T OUT RUN THE LONG ARM OF THE LAW