 Action Packed (2001) [ larger cover art ] |
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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
| meauclaire (AZ....the land of misfits) | Posted: Feb 25, 2013 - 09:02 Outstanding! |
| gypsyman (just passing through....) | Posted: Feb 25, 2013 - 09:01 Very likeable. Reference to Mods and Rockers? |
| Lonestar (Probably Above You) | Posted: Nov 23, 2012 - 09:24 Like this song, but Del McCoury's version is way better. |
| rsfc_carp (Lafayette, IN) | Posted: Nov 23, 2012 - 09:15 clive369 wrote: So the poor blighter gets killed in a motorcycle crash (on a Vincent '52) and "there wasn't much left". He then gives his girlie the keys to said machine. I rather doubt "having run out of road" that it was in any kind of ride-able state. But maybe he meant for her to cash in the scrap metal and to treat herself to something nice? Love eh?  You need to listen more closely. "Shotgun blast to his chest..." |
| clive369 (Windsor, UK) | Posted: Sep 21, 2012 - 12:32 So the poor blighter gets killed in a motorcycle crash (on a Vincent '52) and "there wasn't much left". He then gives his girlie the keys to said machine. I rather doubt "having run out of road" that it was in any kind of ride-able state. But maybe he meant for her to cash in the scrap metal and to treat herself to something nice? Love eh? |
| Seahunt (Parent's Basement) | Posted: Sep 21, 2012 - 12:32 Thanks Bud! On my list to learn! buddy wrote: Guitarists: Open G, drop bottom G to C, capo 3rd fret. Very manageable in this configuration. Go for it! |
| FogAudio (St Petersburg, FL) | Posted: Sep 21, 2012 - 12:31 Saw Richard Thompson in Tampa's historic Tampa Theatre early this year. He played this song which was great! There were rumors that his ex Linda Thompson was also going to be there (unfortunately that didn't happen). Cool concert in a cool venue none the less. |
| d-don (Oregon) | Posted: Sep 21, 2012 - 12:29 My favorite Thompson song. Love it. |
| robotbass (Boston Area) | Posted: Sep 21, 2012 - 12:28 buddy wrote: Guitarists: Open G, drop bottom G to C, capo 3rd fret. Very manageable in this configuration. Go for it! I saw him do this on the AMAs the other day. Thanks for the info. I don't know if I can replicate his finger picking though.  |
| buddy | Posted: May 18, 2012 - 07:42 Guitarists: Open G, drop bottom G to C, capo 3rd fret. Very manageable in this configuration. Go for it! |
| Stingray ("ANONYMOUS INTERNET") | Posted: May 18, 2012 - 07:38 Certainly not made for our beloved STINGRAY.... |
| bluecshells (EARTH) | Posted: May 18, 2012 - 07:35 This one still gives me chills. |
| DanO-1 (Sandia Park, New Mexico) | Posted: May 18, 2012 - 07:34 lemmoth wrote: Man is an amazing guitar player. Yup. Seen him live twice. Brilliant.  |
| lemmoth (NYC) | Posted: Apr 16, 2012 - 14:06 Man is an amazing guitar player. |
| Seahunt (Parent's Basement) | Posted: Feb 13, 2012 - 03:38 Saw him do this live a couple months ago. Chills. Just him and his guitar on stage for two hours. Awesome! |
| Poacher (Brighton, UK) | Posted: Jan 12, 2012 - 09:20 The reference to Box Hill ("And down to Box Hill they did ride") is a road near Dorking in Surrey UK that was one of the first dual carriageway bypass to be built in the UK. It is on a hill and has lovely sweeping curves although has unusual reverse camber in places making it a tad 'interesting'. The road was (and is) very popular to blat down and commands bikes from many a mile and for many years, usually on Sundays. Sadly, this has now all passed now the filth have put stop to the 'fun' what with speed cameras and plain clothes cars and, well, people killing themselves, but you often still see a bike rally on Sundays at the bottom of the hill. |
| HearsayDave (a mysterious seaside village with Number Six) | Posted: Jan 12, 2012 - 09:17 Does this go to 11? |
| ceillydee | Posted: Dec 11, 2011 - 13:50 This song makes my heart sing like no other! |
| bachbeet | Posted: Nov 09, 2011 - 21:03 Guess I'm in the minority here. It's OK but I could not rate it nearly as high as an 8. |
| (former member) (hotel in Las Vegas) | Posted: Nov 09, 2011 - 21:03 This is a profound song with some sweet acoustic guitar work... awesome... |
| sirdroseph (Yes) | Posted: Jul 07, 2011 - 04:20 Man, what a great song this is. It has a real classic feel like it was written in the 50s or something. Love all versions! |
| Businessgypsy (Deepest, Darkest Florida) | Posted: Apr 03, 2011 - 07:25 The Bluegrass version of this by Bean Creek is very nice, the aesthetic matches the genre well. |
| complicated | Posted: Dec 30, 2010 - 05:08 Many years ago I saw Richard Thompson perform this song at the Georgia Theatre in Athens — one man with one guitar under one spotlight. He must have sung it live hundreds of times, and I bet every time it sounded as immediate and urgent as that one. I could almost smell the road dust, fumes, and black leather. But, alas, no redheaded girl. So now the original sounds too tame to me. |
| Det (Lower Saxony Germany) | Posted: Nov 28, 2010 - 12:36 cool treat - yeah! |
| nmatavka | Posted: Nov 28, 2010 - 12:35 Aww, how mediocre! |
| akousa (North Coast, USA) | Posted: Jun 22, 2010 - 08:00 An oustanding blend of stortytelling, songcraft and musicianship. I can't wait for the movie version. |
| WayUpNorth (Windswept Exile) | Posted: Jun 22, 2010 - 07:21  The original deserves a nod. Love the Pre-Raphaelites. Painted by John Collier Stefen wrote: Maybe not a Vincent, but close.  |
| Decoy (Milliway's, the Restaurant at the End of the Universe) | Posted: Jun 22, 2010 - 07:20 Stefen wrote: Maybe not a Vincent, but close. I don't see much leather either... |
| evansdad (CT) | Posted: Jun 22, 2010 - 07:18 I LOVE this song... |
| Cynaera (South of Neanderthal) | Posted: May 21, 2010 - 11:56 This song always makes me want to hear "I Agree With Pat Metheny."  ("Kenny's talents are too teeny - he deserves the crap he's going to get. Overdubbed himself on Louis - what a musical chop-suey! Raised his head above the parapet...") The man's a lyrical and musical genius with a wicked, shameless sense of humor. I love him ridiculously. |
| Stefen (West Hollywood, CA) | Posted: Apr 19, 2010 - 18:17 Maybe not a Vincent, but close. |
| Propayne (Richmond VA) | Posted: Mar 19, 2010 - 05:15 hmmm, makes me want to put together a "mix cd" of all my favorite motorcycle songs... |
| pdjpirate (Near the Graveyard of the Atlantic!) | Posted: Feb 15, 2010 - 13:56 Oh Bill, what a surprise to hear this! OUSTANDING!! |
| Rick_V (New Orleans) | Posted: Nov 13, 2009 - 08:45 Godlike without a doubt! |
| raga (Italy - Como) | Posted: Nov 13, 2009 - 08:16 I saw Richard more than 10 years ago in a theatre of a little town in Italy. It was a great gig, I remember Richard, alone in the stage, singing with the audience while he was changing a broken guitar chord... |
| (former member) (hotel in Las Vegas) | Posted: Nov 13, 2009 - 08:12 cool... |
| Bat (Austin) | Posted: Nov 13, 2009 - 08:10 I just saw him last Saturday, with (Loudain Wainwight III). |
| (former member) (hotel in Las Vegas) | Posted: Oct 12, 2009 - 20:15 love it... |
| Hannio (Austin, TX) | Posted: Sep 11, 2009 - 07:25 LPCity wrote: . I have a buddy who has one of these rare bikes and it does have a great sound.....ALMOST as good a sound as my 73' Norton Commando Roadster. HA! You wish. |
| patrick_larson (Austin, TX) | Posted: Sep 11, 2009 - 07:21 Goose bumps all over. I love this song! |
| sfearll (Monrovia, CA) | Posted: Jun 08, 2009 - 08:38 I heard him sing this song live on Saturday night on Santa Monica Pier, just him and his guitar. Couldn't get the song out of my head all the next day. He was funny, charming, and blew us all away with his guitar virtuoso. |
| (former member) (hotel in Las Vegas) | Posted: Jun 08, 2009 - 08:24 This song is good for the ears... |
| Frater_Kork (Uppsala, Sweden) | Posted: Jun 08, 2009 - 08:23 They called him Jayne! |
| to_the_eleven (in the groove) | Posted: May 14, 2009 - 07:42 Think that link is now broken; here's the photo from wikipedia. Amazing.  LLMikeJ wrote: Please check out this link for a story about Rollie Free breaking the land speed record on a VBL. Rollie wore a bathing suit and swimcap and literally laid face down (superman-style) on the seat to reduce wind resistance. He went just over 150 mph (!) this way. The photo is famous in the motorcycle world. This is the image many motorcyclists will have in their mind whenever they hear the words "Vincent Black Lightning". 9(1).jpg) |
| ick (San Diego, CA) | Posted: Mar 05, 2009 - 13:05 I think I want this song played at my funeral. 'Bout the only thing of value I'll have when I die is a '06 Triumph Daytona 675. lol... wish I had a '52 Vincent though. |
| Mandible | Posted: Mar 05, 2009 - 13:03 sounds like the dude from barenaked ladies! |
| Darrooon (sjc»ca»us»3rdrock) | Posted: Feb 01, 2009 - 23:36 WELL- there's a '53 Vincent for sale on EBay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160311565061 current bid: $75200 |
| jpfueler (South o' Ft Worth) | Posted: Jan 01, 2009 - 08:29 I wonder. Were the Angels riding Square Fours? |
| greyfin10 (Panama City, FL) | Posted: Oct 30, 2008 - 06:32 So disappointed I missed this... I had a Rykodisc compilation CD years ago that had him doing a song called "The Calvary Cross" (live I think). Man what a performance... one of those songs that sear into your brain with their intensity. Wish I still had the CD, I'd try and upload it :( |
| petesoper (Apex, NC) | Posted: Oct 14, 2008 - 12:00 Anybody who could twist the throttle of a 50s era Vincent for any length of time gets my respect. Carrying a passenger is extremely worrisome (does she/he share your decisions about risk of extremely rapid dismemberment or death?). But it makes for a hell of a song and I really enjoy Richard Thompson songs. |
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