Richard Thompson - Vincent Black Lightning 1952

capo 3 , key of G#

G C
said red molly to james that’s a fine motorbike ,
C G
a girl could feel special on any such like
G C
said james to red molly , well my hat’s off to you
C G
it’s a vincent black lightning , 1952
G D C G
and i’ve seen you at the corners and cafes it seems
D C G
red hair and black leather , my favourite colour scheme
G Am Am/B C
and he pulled her on behind
C G
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 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 thisworld
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
D C G
i see angels and ariels in leather and chrome
D C G
swooping down from heaven to carry me home
G Am Am/B C
he gave her one last kiss and died
C G
and he gave her his vincent to ride .