Long Arm of the Law Songtext
von Kenny Rogers

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 movin′
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 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 midwife pulled the sheet back
And placed a cool damp towel on Marianne
Billy′s eyes were wide with wonder
From the spell that 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 holdin' 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
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 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"

Ah, but you can't outrun the long arm of the law
No, you can't outrun the long arm of the law