In Cumberland Kentucky On a cool autumn evening Billy lay in love with Marianne She was a rich judge's daughter He was the 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 outrun the long arm of the law No, you can't outrun the long arm of the law Billy placed his hand on Mary And he felt the baby 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 send 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 smile 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 and humid mine shack The midwife pulled the sheet back And placed a cool, damp towel on Marianne Billy's eyes were wide with wonder From the spell he was under When she placed the newborn baby in his hands He didn't hear the siren Just the baby 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 outrun the long arm of the law No, you can't outrun the long arm of the law You can hide out for a while He says with a smile But you can't outrun 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 looked right through him As he held that Holy Bible in his hand Then he smiled at his grandson And his eyes cut back to Billy He said "I think this time the law will understand Son, I sentence you to life with Marianne" You can't outrun the long arm of the law No, you can't outrun the long arm of the law He said to Billy with a smile I know you hid out for a while But you can't outrun the long arm of the law No, you can't outrun the long arm of the law