UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                              WASHINGTON, DC 20549

                                   ----------

                                    FORM 8-K

                           CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO
                           SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


       Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): October 24, 2003


                          COMMISSION FILE NO.: 0-26823

                        ALLIANCE RESOURCE PARTNERS, L.P.
             (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)


               DELAWARE                                73-1564280
    (STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF           (IRS EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION
     INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)                       NO.)


           1717 SOUTH BOULDER AVENUE, SUITE 600, TULSA, OKLAHOMA 74119
              (ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES AND ZIP CODE)

                                 (918) 295-7600
              (REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE)




ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

         (c)  EXHIBITS

              99.1   Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. press release dated as of
                     October 24, 2003


ITEM 12.          RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION.

         In accordance with General Instruction B.2. of Form 8-K, the following
information and the exhibits referenced therein is being furnished under Item 12
of Form 8-K and is not deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is not subject to the liabilities
of that section and is not deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

         On October 24, 2003, Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. (the
"Partnership"), announced via press release its earnings and operating results
for the third quarter of 2003. A copy of the Partnership's press release is
attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

                                       2




                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

     ALLIANCE RESOURCE PARTNERS, L.P.

By:  Alliance Resource Management GP, LLC,
     its managing general partner


By:  /s/ Joseph W. Craft III
     ------------------------------------------
     Joseph W. Craft III
     President and Chief Executive Officer

Date: October 27, 2003


                                       3





                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

<Table>
<Caption>

EXHIBIT
NUMBER            DESCRIPTION
- -------           -----------
               

* 99.1            Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. press release dated as of
                  October 24, 2003
</Table>

- ----------

* Filed herewith.