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1952 Vincent Black Lightning

One of the great motorcycle songs. Written by Richard Thompson.

Said Red Molly to James that's a fine motorbike
A girl could feel special on any such like
Said 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

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

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Comment by turtlehead on March 16, 2015 at 5:03am: Hi Paul, thanks for watching. For ADF#, I use the ADG strings from a regular pack of acoustic strings and tune the G string down to F#. That puts you in the key of D. You can get in G tuning by using the DGB strings instead and tune them the way they are meant to be. That's what I normally do.

Comment by Leon LeFonque on March 16, 2015 at 1:01am: I notice that you are using ADF# may I ask what strings you are using to get the banjo feel to this song.

I am new to cigar Box Guitars and I really like the sound you have on this song. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Regards

Paul

Comment by Mr.melo on July 11, 2013 at 2:27pm: very cash like :) love it good lyrics

Comment by RTZGUITARS on July 2, 2013 at 6:09am: Aside from a great performance of a cool song your recording both sound and vid is really good stuff Turtle.

Comment by Cowbird on July 1, 2013 at 12:21pm: Great song, nice job!

Comment by turtlehead on June 29, 2013 at 2:06am: Thanks Steve and Oily!

Oily - my guit it tuned to D (ADF#) and I'm capoed up to G.

Comment by Ron "Oily" Sprague on June 28, 2013 at 5:36pm: Whoooooop!

O. O. O. O. O

(standing O's)

Gotta learn this one, will go over well at the next open mic. Capoed tuning?