1952 Vincent Black Lightning

Written by Richard Thompson

"they don't have a soul like a Vincent 52"

Oh 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.
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
Oh says James to Red Molly "Here's a ring for your right hand
But I'll 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.
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
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 Greeves and Harleys won't do,
Ah, they don't have a soul like a Vincent 52"
Oh 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.

Richard Thompson performing 1952 Vincent Black Lightning

Listen 1952 Vincent Black Lightning

Listen to an absolutely stunning version of

1956 Vincent Black Lightning

by the American bluegrass/folk rock outfit SullivanBurton here

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Boxhill

"And he pulled her on

behind and down to

Boxhill they did ride"

"....the song grew out of my frustration that it's hard to find contemporary British mythology, because American culture has been so dominant,"

"1952 Vincent Black Lightning" was written in the form of a 17th-century highwayman's ballad, but Thompson, deliberately sets it in the London of his childhood. It tells the familiar story of a beautiful young woman in love with a dangerous outlaw, but in this case the outlaw rides a Vincent motorcycle and the woman sits behind him in a black leather jacket.

"A 1952 Vincent Black Lightning, which is an English motorbike, sounds mythological and British people can relate to it."