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From WWR

Trivia, story behind the song, etc.

You gotta understand what the Vincent Black Lightning was; not even necessarily for the song, but just because it was a milestone of engineering. It was a machine of unalloyed speed. It was the fastest motorcycle ever built. It was the fastest motorcycle you could get until the early seventies. If you wanted to drag race cars or bikes or cars and bikes and airplanes and you had a Vincent then you knew that if a bumble bee didn't fly up your nose and distract you by starting to sting you, then you would win.

Lyrics

Said Red Molly to James, "That's a fine motorbike,
A girl could feel special on any such like."
Said James to Red Molly, "Well my hat's off to you.
It's a Vincent Black Lightning, Nineteen Fifty-two.
And I've seen you at the corners and cafes it seems,
Red hair and black leather; my favorite color scheme."
And he pulled her on behind,
And down to Box Hill they did ride.

Said James to Red Molly, "Here's a ring for your right hand.
But I'll tell you in earnest I'm a dangerous man.
I've fought with the law since I was seventeen.
I robbed many a man to get my Vincent machine.
Now I'm twenty-one years, I might make twenty-two,
And I don't mind dying, but for the love of you.
And if fate should break my stride
Then I'll give you my Vincent to ride."

"Come down, come down, Red Molly," called Sergeant McRae,
"For they've taken young James away for armed robbery.
Shotgun blast hit his chest, left nothing inside.
Oh, come down, Red Molly to his dying bedside."
When she came to the hospital, there wasn't much left
He was running out of road, he was running out of breath
But he smiled to see her cry
And said, "I'll give you my Vincent to ride."

Says James, "In my opinion, there's nothing in this world
Beats a fifty-two Vincent and a red headed girl.
Now Nortons and Indians and Greeveses won't do;
They don't have a soul like a Vincent fifty-two."
He reached for her hand and he slipped her the keys.
He said, "I've got no further use for these.
I see angels on Ariels in leather and chrome,
Swooping down from heaven to carry me home."
And he gave her one last kiss and died,
And he gave her his Vincent to ride

Words and Music by Richard Thompson

a 1952 Vincent Black Lightning [1]

Listener comments about "1952 Vincent Black Lightning (15006)"

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