Red hair and black leather, my favorite color scheme...

[KG]

yes, i got to see the incedible Richard Thompson, writer of the greatest motorcycle song ever, solo acoustic tonite. and you didn't.


ARTIST: Richard Thompson
TITLE: 1952 Vincent Black Lightning

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 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

[leftofthedial]

1. you piss me off

I was playing solo acoustic tonight and you weren't.

But I wish I'd been hearing Richard Thompson!

[KG]

4. cool, but can you do the that finger picking thing he does?

[leftofthedial]

9. Richard Thompson is a great guitarist.

Nobody can play like him. 1952 Vincent Black Lighting is simply an incredible song. Have you ever heard the version by the Del McCoury Band?

[KG]

12. a lame cover of one of the greatest songs ever written in the history

of the universe. :)

[short bus president]

2. Del McCoury does it better. n/t

;-)

[KG]

3. yes, Kentucky is crawling w/ Vincents!

[leftofthedial]

10. Now there's a choice!

I think both versions are absolutely wonderful. I think I'd have to listen to each about 1000 times to help me decide.

It's truly a great song that can transcend genre so effortlessly.

The McCoury version is so much fun. Thompson's version is so perfect . . .

[Redstone]

5. Coupla small corrections:

"They've taken young James A.D. (short for Armed and Dangerous), not Adie.

Greaveses, not Greeveses

Redstone

PS: Bet the concert was great.

[KG]

6. i just cut and paste 'em

he is riveting on stage solo. ended the show with 'Beeswing'

[Redstone]

7. Well, can you do me a favor and advise the person

you cut & pasted from of the corrections?

There are very few things I'm picky about, but as a (former) songwriter, I find inaccurate lyrics as irritating as badly-tuned instrument strings (Yes, I can tell when there's ONE STRING out of tune in a piano, or if someone plays ONE flat note. It's no fun, believe me; it's actually a curse.)

Redstone

[KG]

8. it was the first site that came up on a google search.

but thanks for the buzzkill, anyway!

[Redstone]

13. Sorry about that. Wasn't meant to dampen

your having enjoyed the concert.

Redstone

[leftofthedial]

11. I tune because I care

but I don't tune that well, because I don't care that much . . .