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Musicbrainz DBSaid Red Molly to James that's a fine motorbike
A girl could feel special on any such like
Said James to Red Molly, my hat's off to you
It's a Vincent Black Lightning, 1952
And I've seen you at the corners and cafes it seems
Red hair and black leather, my favourite colour scheme
And he pulled her on behind
And down to Boxhill 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 21 years, I might make 22
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 Adie 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 52 Vincent and a red headed girl
Now Nortons and Indians and Greeveses won't do
They don't have a soul like a Vincent 52
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
| renostve999 | Posted: Apr 18, 2013 - 19:01 okay...it's stoopid, but this song always brings a tear to my eye. |
| dew34 (Wisconsin-quite woodsy) | Posted: Apr 18, 2013 - 18:59 There is no one better in this genere! |
| nelamvr6 (New London, CT USA) | Posted: Apr 18, 2013 - 18:56 I absolutely love this song! I was so thrilled to hear Richard play it live... twice. He's still out there touring, if you have the chance, don't miss him! |
| RedGuitar (Iowa, USA) | Posted: Mar 18, 2013 - 07:46 oufason wrote: "Red hair and black leather my favortie color schemes" has to be one of the best lines. Here's a similar one: Canadian mounted baby, a police force that works Red and black, that's their color scheme Get their man, in the end |
| RedGuitar (Iowa, USA) | Posted: Mar 18, 2013 - 07:44 xkolibuul wrote: If I could play guitar like just one artist, it would be Richard Thompson. I agree - for the acoustic. For electric I'd pick Jeff Beck, with Richard a close second. |
| TerryS (Another SW) | Posted: Feb 14, 2013 - 22:49 Rode down Box Hill , stopped in the Stepping Stones Pub for a pint then bestrode my Lambretta and carried on. No Red Molly by my side. |
| xkolibuul (Chuckanut sandstone) | Posted: Feb 14, 2013 - 22:44 If I could play guitar like just one artist, it would be Richard Thompson. |
| CinnamonGirl (Port Townsend, WA) | Posted: Jan 14, 2013 - 15:09 Great performance of jewel of a ballad. "I don't mind dying but for the love of you" |
| akiml (Cambridge, MA) | Posted: Jan 14, 2013 - 15:02 Brilliant version- SOLID 10 ! Anyone know if this can be found in a recording? |
| philinnz (Wellington, New Zealand) | Posted: Nov 12, 2012 - 21:03 998 cc a classic bike ahead of its time great song to go with it |
| bev (Reno, NV) | Posted: Oct 12, 2012 - 12:29 This live version is just fabulous...digging the bass and the faster tempo! Richard's growl gets on down into the depths of those brilliant lyrics...zap, bang, pow! Yes!  |
| joelbb | Posted: Sep 10, 2012 - 22:59 Had a buddy who had a Vincent. Woulda killed for it. |
| Decoy (Milliway's, the Restaurant at the End of the Universe) | Posted: Aug 10, 2012 - 11:23 oufason wrote: "Red hair and black leather my favortie color schemes" has to be one of the best lines. I love it when my red-head wife wears her black leather jacket. |
| oufason | Posted: Jun 08, 2012 - 07:39 "Red hair and black leather my favortie color schemes" has to be one of the best lines. |
| DanO-1 (Sandia Park, New Mexico) | Posted: May 07, 2012 - 13:27 d-don wrote: What he said. yup  |
| gregwood | Posted: Apr 05, 2012 - 20:07 Saw Richard Thpson live in Montreal last September... Only got to realize that I saw him play at MUN in St. John's in the 70's as a part of Fairport. Convention... Awesome performance, even if you don't like his voice/guitar combo. |
| werner (12,000 years away from home) | Posted: Feb 02, 2012 - 11:13 Seahunt wrote: Dammit. Just tuned in to hear the last chord. I just saw Richard live a couple months ago. For all you haters, go see him live and report back  No hater, don´t know him, never saw him. I just do not like this piece of musik. I think that´s OK. |
| Seahunt (Parent's Basement) | Posted: Feb 02, 2012 - 11:07 Dammit. Just tuned in to hear the last chord. I just saw Richard live a couple months ago. For all you haters, go see him live and report back |
| werner (12,000 years away from home) | Posted: Feb 02, 2012 - 11:05 Please make it stop. NOW. Please |
| CamLwalk (Albany NY) | Posted: Feb 02, 2012 - 11:02 It's like a movie...with crazy good finger picking. |
| TerryS (Another SW) | Posted: Nov 30, 2011 - 22:33 I just want to hear the Red Mollies sing this. |
| d-don (Oregon) | Posted: Sep 28, 2011 - 14:38 mike_chouinard wrote: More Richard, please! One of the finest guitar players around. What he said. |
| mike_chouinard | Posted: Sep 28, 2011 - 14:37 More Richard, please! One of the finest guitar players around. |
| jules44 (Sunny North Carolina) | Posted: Sep 28, 2011 - 14:35 Awesome song!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
| JsDad (Chapel Hill, NC) | Posted: May 25, 2011 - 18:14 Thompson put this song on "Rumor & Sigh." He was well aware of the rarity of this bike. On his next album (Mirror Blue) he included the song "MGB-GT." There were several hundred of those cars produced, I believe. When asked about following the cycle song with the car song, he said he was attempting to appeal to a larger audience.  Stuart wrote: Did a little Googling and was surprised to find that there were only 30 Vincent Black Lightnings produced. In 1952, a total of four were made; one went to London, and the other three went to Singapore. |
| ChicoCyclist (Chico, CA) | Posted: Mar 23, 2011 - 15:26 Can't wait to see the Richard Thompson Electric Trio at the Sierra Nevada Big Room this Friday. He puts on one of the best live shows I've ever seen. |
| PFM (Out on a limb) | Posted: Mar 23, 2011 - 15:20 Watched Top Gear last night and they had a race to the north that included a Vincent Black Shadow, a Jaguar XK120 and a steam train. Great show! |
| gabrielle7nt (moving on) | Posted: Mar 23, 2011 - 15:17 Nice version of a great song. |
| ghcollins86 (Santa Monica, CA (469.84 miles SSW of Paradise)) | Posted: Mar 23, 2011 - 15:17 God Like!! |
| Dave_Mack (In limbo) | Posted: Mar 23, 2011 - 15:17 Yayayay! My favorite Richard Thompson song. Love to see him play this from close up. He's an amazing player, and very amusing in concert. |
| Blaggart | Posted: Feb 20, 2011 - 04:39 gregormiz wrote: Although I love motorcycles, and all sorts of rebellious people, I don't particularly like criminals. In particular, I dislike violent criminals. Yes, that works. The Bluegrass version of this works as well.My edit: "So he died, and went to Hell, and he gave her his Vincent... to sell" |
| luiso (Madrid) | Posted: Feb 20, 2011 - 04:31 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, 1952 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 Come down, come down, Red Molly, called Sergeant McRae Says James, in my opinion, there's nothing in this world Incredible song, and LIVE too!! |
| calypsus_1 | Posted: Dec 19, 2010 - 13:30 Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Breakdown (Liv My Morning Jacket - It Beats 4 U Talking Heads - Air (Live) Richard Thompson - 1952 Vincent Black Lightnin Colin Hay - Beautiful World Louis Armstrong - What A Wonderful World |
| revsully (Vermont) | Posted: Dec 19, 2010 - 13:18 virtualsquid wrote: Pretty spooky. I've never heard of this singer before, never seen this specific motorcycle... but i cried when hearing the song. I can hardly understand a dang word he's saying... |
| gregormiz (Portland, OR) | Posted: Nov 17, 2010 - 19:34 Although I love motorcycles, and all sorts of rebellious people, I don't particularly like criminals. In particular, I dislike violent criminals. My edit: "So he died, and went to Hell, and he gave her his Vincent... to sell" |
| RedGuitar (Iowa, USA) | Posted: Sep 15, 2010 - 09:03 jules44 wrote: Best Concert I've ever been to...seen him several times actually! A great performer. I've seen him do the acoustic solo shows, but I wished I could have seen him with the electric band. |
| ick (S.E. La Jolla) | Posted: Sep 15, 2010 - 09:03 A very good song about some people and a beautiful motorcycle. |
| swell_sailor (The Gorge) | Posted: Sep 15, 2010 - 09:00 Incredible! |
| JoepKoperdraat | Posted: Sep 15, 2010 - 09:00 Brilliant! |
| CamLwalk (Albany NY) | Posted: Sep 15, 2010 - 08:59 Doesn't this make you want to smash your guitar into a wall? |
| isayhoomhom (Bethel, CT) | Posted: Jul 13, 2010 - 10:47 One of my favorite songs, but not my favorite versions. |
| jules44 (Sunny North Carolina) | Posted: Jun 11, 2010 - 14:29 Best Concert I've ever been to...seen him several times actually! |
| nelamvr6 (New London, CT USA) | Posted: Jun 11, 2010 - 14:11 Absolutely beautiful! I had the pleasure of seeing him do this one live, is was amazing! If you like this you should check out the Mobile Fidelity release "Some Enchanted Evenings" on 45RPM vinyl... |
| DaveInVA (In a hovel in effluent Damnville, VA) | Posted: May 10, 2010 - 20:24 I've seen him live several times and this is always one of my favorites to hear him do live |
| greg6494 (St. Louis) | Posted: Mar 08, 2010 - 12:11 http://www.thevincent.com/vbl.htm about halfway down page...i only see 3 1952s (london bike was a mid-51). have you actually seen one (your location says Singapore)? would love to see a pic or a vid of one being ridden on the street. first 150mph bike, crazy. decent vid of a show vincent here... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYw_ATY9cpg Stuart wrote: Did a little Googling and was surprised to find that there were only 30 Vincent Black Lightnings produced. In 1952, a total of four were made; one went to London, and the other three went to Singapore. |
| p2h2d2 (On the Lake) | Posted: Mar 08, 2010 - 12:07 Foreboding voice and lyrics. The live version great highlights his oft-overlooked guitar work. Thanks Bill |
| eeke (Canal Winchester Ohio) | Posted: Mar 08, 2010 - 12:04 ohhh... a live version... wishin i was there to experience him sing this.... |
| Stuart (Singapore [RPT+16]) | Posted: Dec 01, 2002 - 07:47 Did a little Googling and was surprised to find that there were only 30 Vincent Black Lightnings produced. In 1952, a total of four were made; one went to London, and the other three went to Singapore. |
| virtualsquid (San Francisco, CA) | Posted: Nov 10, 2002 - 22:18 Pretty spooky. I've never heard of this singer before, never seen this specific motorcycle... but i cried when hearing the song. |
| rKokon (Colesville, MD) | Posted: Nov 10, 2002 - 22:17 A brilliant song by a brilliant songwriter, who sings expressively if not mellifluously. 
God, isn't there any way he and Linda could reunite?  |
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