Vincent Black Lightning

'Vincent Black Lightning' by Richard Thompson is one of my all-time favourite songs which I used to play regularly and, most often, in the car for some reason.

Now it's a simple tale of boy meets girl, an old-fashioned ballad, an impossible love story a kind of modern day mash-up along the lines of Ned Kelly meets James Dean. 

I always think of two things when I listen to the song my children who were often in the car with me when I was driving along and my old friend Eddy Coulson.

Now the reason I think of my friend Eddy is less obvious - he hasn't robbed any banks (as far as I know anyway), but he does have a great love of motorbikes and his wife, Tessa, has beautiful dark red hair which always makes me think of 'Red Molly'.

In any event, here are the words to the song and a YouTube video of Richard Thompson singing Vincent Black Lightning live. 

Vincent Black Lightning 

Says Red Molly to James “That’s a fine motorbike.

A girl could feel special on any such like” 

Says 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 Box Hill they did ride

Oh says James to Red Molly “Here’s a ring for your right hand 

But I’ll tell you in earnest I’m a dangerous man. 

For 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 Jamesie 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 

He said “I’ 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 Triumphs and Nortons and Greaveses won’t do, 

Ah, they don’t have a soul like a Vincent 52″ 

Oh he reached for her hand and he slipped her the keys 

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.