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schlange - Posted - 01/19/2015: 14:22:02
We don't get a lot of motorcyle songs in bluegrass... but this is a good one!
"1952 Vincent Black Lightning" was written by Richard Thompson and released on his 1991 album "Rumor and Sigh." Thompson is an incredible guitarist--see the video below for his performance of this tune.
Bluegrassers will be more familiar with Del McCoury's version of the tune, which won a 2002 Song of the Year IBMA award. It was released on their "Del and the Boys" album July 10, 2001.
The song tells the story of an outlaw James who road a 1952 Vincent Black Lightning motorcycle. (The fastest production motorcycle in the world, it was only produced in the UK from 1948-1952.) James falls in love with Molly and dies in a botched robbery--and as his last dying act he hands over the keys to his bike.
Played in C by Del, but also heard in A and B.
Lyrics:
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
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
Learn the Tune:
- Hear it using the GrooveShark playlist to the right.
- We have a video lesson from Casey Henry covering the kickoff and some backup for this tune. Only $6 thru 1/26! Get it here >
- Backing Tracks: Band in a Box tracks are included below at various speeds for your practicing pleasure.
- Tabs: a couple tabs in the archives.
Share!
I (and others) would love to hear (and see!) you play your version of this tune--post it in a reply below!
JoePasko - Posted - 01/19/2015: 14:59:58
Del substitutes 'Knoxville' for 'Box Hill'. That moves the tale from England to USA.
(How readily available were Vincent's in US as imports ? Perhaps the American James was an even better crook than his British counterpart.)
Great tune ... good story .. and not difficult to learn.
Edited by - JoePasko on 01/19/2015 15:04:29
Jack Baker - Posted - 01/19/2015: 15:09:57
Hi Eric,
Dr. Peter Van E.? has an excellent tab of this in the archives. Mick G. also has a good version on his site. Perhaps someone could post it here...Jack
Edited by - Jack Baker on 01/19/2015 15:17:40
cuberous - Posted - 01/19/2015: 20:13:17
Check out the MP3 post of the tune by Dick Webb and Jim Gordon (the Resonators) out of Boston - a very solid rendition.
ABK - Posted - 01/20/2015: 05:57:34
Here's my humble, hooded, claw version I did last year.
ejimb0 - Posted - 01/20/2015: 09:12:15
Very nice job AbK.
Eastbaygeorge - Posted - 01/20/2015: 12:32:37
There were Vincent Black Lightnings in the US in those days, but not very many. I don't think Richard Thompson ever rode one, though, because my recollection is that they
didn't have ignition keys. I know my 1950 Triumph 650 Thunderbird (the single-carb version of the Bonneville) didn't have a key. Mine got stolen once on the campus of San Jose State University in California. A few days later I spotted it parked near campus and stole it back.
The Vincents were very cool for their time, but they had way more power than brakes (see the tiny little drum brakes in the pix?) and they didn't have an actual frame. The front end bolted to a heavy steel oil tank hidden under the fuel tank, and the rear end bolted to that tank and the engine. When a motorcycle doesn't handle well, it is sometimes said to "have a hinge in the middle." The Vincent was a bit like that.
From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 01/20/2015: 17:16:18
Del McCoury, what a good guy. I love the part where it is just singing and banjo. and didn't the 4th string on that banjo made by Rob's father in law sound good.
Great song.
ken
Charles in SC - Posted - 01/20/2015: 19:18:48
As I remember it the Black Lighting was a sub model of the Vincent. I do not remember what was different about it.
What is a Greeves?
Edited by - Charles in SC on 01/20/2015 19:21:28
Laurence Diehl - Posted - 01/20/2015: 21:46:58
quote:
Originally posted by Charles in SC
As I remember it the Black Lighting was a sub model of the Vincent. I do not remember what was different about it.
What is a Greeves?
Greeves were dirt bikes for the most part. But in the video I hear Richard Thompson say beeza (BSA) which is a much more likely bike to be in the company of Nortons, Indians etc.
ancient tones - Posted - 01/21/2015: 02:56:27
I sing it "Norton's and Indians and Harleys won't do"....to make the song more local. And "down to Asheville they did ride"
JoePasko - Posted - 01/21/2015: 03:17:53
"Kawasaki's and Suzuki's and Honda's won't do ...."
Edited by - JoePasko on 01/21/2015 03:18:25
calfskin - Posted - 01/21/2015: 03:45:26
no such animal as a vincent black lightning there was a" Lightning" for off road sports use and a" black shadow" which some people upgraded with lightning parts or a milder tuned rapide for road use, rt used his poetic licence on this to great effect! ps it is beezers (BSA) not greeves and no ignition key but he could have had a chain and padlock at that price maybe 2! !
JoePasko - Posted - 01/21/2015: 04:10:17
quote:
Originally posted by ancient tones
I sing it "Norton's and Indians and Harleys won't do"....to make the song more Nice local. And "down to Asheville they did ride"
Nice !! The 'Folk Process' in action.
percyvera - Posted - 01/21/2015: 07:22:59
quote:
Originally posted by Charles in SC
As I remember it the Black Lighting was a sub model of the Vincent. I do not remember what was different about it.
What is a Greeves?
Greeves were two-stroke-powered, legendary motocross mounts over here in the UK, Charles. They were imported into the states in the 1960's and early 1970's as desert racers capable of seeing off many a 4-stroke in their day. I have an early Greeves Hawkstone scrambles bike in my shed which comes out for the pre-65 classic racing season. See Attachment.
Bob Robert - Posted - 01/23/2015: 05:23:13
quote:
Originally posted by calfskin
no such animal as a vincent black lightning there was a" Lightning" for off road sports use and a" black shadow" which some people upgraded with lightning parts or a milder tuned rapide for road use, rt used his poetic licence on this to great effect! ps it is beezers (BSA) not greeves and no ignition key but he could have had a chain and padlock at that price maybe 2! !
My grandpa had a Vincent Black Shadow at one time, before I was ever around, and probably before my dad was around. He told me that it was so fast it scared him. Wish he'd still had it when I was young and dumb. If he had, maybe I wouldn't be older and wiser now, though.
Not that Wikipedia is the source of all true knowledge, but this page says there were 31 Black Lightnings made: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincent_...Lightning
The first version of this song I heard was performed by BHO member Frailin', and it's still my favorite. I'll try to link to it here: banjohangout.org/myhangout/med...archived= If that doesn't work, just look it up on his BHO page, listed as Singleton Street - Vincent Black Lightning.
RonR - Posted - 01/23/2015: 17:07:15
This was my fine running Brit
jmod - Posted - 02/10/2015: 09:36:52
Just now noticed this one, well done Eric!
