This is from "rumour and sigh" by Richard Thompson
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 hats 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 I’ll give you my Vincent to ride
come down, come down, Red Molly, called sergeant MacRae
for they’ve taken young James Adie for armed robbery
shotgun blast hit 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
said I’ll give you my Vincent to ride
said young 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 won' t do
they don't have a soul like a Vincent '52
he reached for her hand and he gave her the keys
he said i don't have any further use for these
I see angels on Ariels in leather and chrome
swooping down from heaven to carry me home
he gave her one last kiss and died
and he gave her his Vincent to ride
Here are two more verses that recently came to light from a
These lyrics were transcribed by someone on the Vincent list.
(after the first verse)
Says James this Black Lightning is a fine pedigree
On the Bonneville Salt Flats in the hands of Rollie Free
A factory model not rebored no tricks
The speed always steady on 146
They smashed through the land speed record that day
So I just had to have my own one come May
So you see it's a matter of some pride, that Vincent is the marque that I must ride
(after James gives Molly the keys and dies; last verse in this version)
Well Molly stole his body from the hospital bed
Said we'll give him a decent burial yet
They cremated him out in the dark cold rain
Then they stripped his fuel tank right off the frame
Then they poured in his ashes as the panwoods? flowed
I buried him there with a view of the road
And even the hard men cried
And forever on his Vincent he rides