In Cumberland, Kentucky on a cool autumn evening   Billy lay in love with Marianne   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 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 mid-wife 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 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