1952 Vincent Black Lightning


sorabji.com: What are you listening to?: 1952 Vincent Black Lightning
By Sarah on Sunday, October 3, 1999 - 05:00 pm:


    "1952 Vincent Black Lightning"

    Says Red Molly to James
    "That's a fine motorbike,
    A girl could feel special on any such like."
    Says James to Red Molly "My hat's off to you,
    It's a Vincent Black Lightning 1952.
    I've seen you at the corners and cafes it seems,
    Red hair and black leather,
    my favorite colour scheme."

    And he pulled her on behind
    And down to Box Hill they did ride.
    Says James to Red Molly,
    "Here's a ring for your right hand,
    But I tell you in earnest I'm a dangerous man.
    For I've fought with the law since I was seventeen,
    I robbed many a man to get my Vincent machine.
    And now I'm twenty one years
    I might make twenty two
    And I don't mind dying,
    but for the love of you.
    But if fate should break my stride,
    Oh then I'll give you my Vincent to ride."

    "Come down, come down Red Molly,"
    called Sergeant McCree
    "They've taken young James Aidie for armed robbery.
    Shot gun blast in his chest left nothing inside.
    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
    He 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 Greaves won't do,
    They don't have a soul like a Vincent '52."

    Well he reached for her hand
    and he slipped her the keys
    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.

    * * * * *


    Vincent Black Shadow went almost 140 mph, legend has it... back in the days of the Hudson Supercharger, a car that would reputedly do 160 with a good tailwind.



By JusMiceElf on Saturday, October 9, 1999 - 12:40 am:

    mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

    Sarah, that's a fave of mine. :>

    Got to hear RT play it live in August at the Hundred Club in London. Have you heard the new album? I love the line in Cooksferry Queen about "Pre-Raphaelite curls in her hair..."


By Notwolf on Thursday, October 19, 2000 - 05:10 pm:

    muh buddy Todd Burge covers that song as well. I have to admit that the first time i ever heard it was outta his pipes...


By Florian on Saturday, March 9, 2002 - 12:11 pm:

    WHERE CAN I FIND THIS SONG?!? i heard it a month ago live by Miles Davis and have been looking for an mp3 since! and as the owner of a Vincent BL '52, i gotta say i've only got it up to 120 mph...


By Don on Wednesday, January 21, 2004 - 07:49 pm:

    Del McCoury CD "Del and the Boys" It's a great bluegrass rendition of Vincent Black Lightning


By semillama on Thursday, January 22, 2004 - 10:12 am:

    Kazu, this is that song you wanted me to remind you about.