This is a
rewrite of Richard Thompson's 1952 Vincent Black
Lightning
about a rebel who rode a much admired
motor cycle that held the world
speed record. Lincoln Mael is a Taranaki musical rebel who
played a
Takamine guitar much
admired by redheaded folk guitarist Deb Gillanders
who wore pink Doc Martin boots. This song is mostly
autobiographical
although
Deb never did get to play the 1993
Takamine.
AUDIO NEEDED
Said Red Debby to
Lincoln "That's a fine guitar,
It must be really special; could it be that
you're a star?"
Said Lincoln to Red Debbie "You're not just a
pretty face; you see
It's a Takamine Santa Fe 1993."
"And I've seen you at the cafes and the folk
clubs it seems,
Red hair and painted Docs are my favorite colour
schemes"
So with their guitars in hand
They went off to the pub for a jam.
Said Lincoln
"Oops sorry... here's a string for your guitar
But I'll tell you in earnest that I treat them
pretty hard.
Cos I've trashed the shit out of music for years
The noise police coming round is one of my
biggest fears"
"And I'm 38 now but the years they take their
toll,
'Cos all of my life I've played loud rock and
roll,
And if they should ever take my PA away
I'll give you my Santa Fe to play!"
"Come down, come
down Red Debbie" said Noise Officer Wells,
"Lincoln's just been metered at One Sixty
decibels.
The neighbors were complaining, took all his
gear, yes every bit.
Oh come down Red Debbie 'cos he's really in the
shit!"
And when she got to the gig, there wasn't so
much noise
He was busking it acoustic, he was running out
of voice
And she smiled cos she didn't have to pay,
And he have her his Santa Fe to play.
Said Lincoln "In
my opinion there's nothing finer in this world,
Than a Takamine Santa Fe and a red headed girl,
Your Martins and your Matons and your Taylors
aren't for me
'Cos they don't have a plugged-in sound like my
Takamine"
And he reached in his bag for his capo and
things.
He said "Look in the case; there's a new set of
strings.
I called Stevie Ray and Elvis and the boys in
The Band,
But you're the only one to come here to give me
a hand"
And as his last chord did fade away
he gave her his Santa Fe to play!
The Santa Fe 1993
The Takamine
limited edition Santa Fe Acoustic model was
made in 1993. There were only 1100 of them,
built in Japan and sold between June and
September of 1993. It had a split saddle
rosewood bridge and silky oak back &
sides. The native American-style black crow
design soundhole rosette is inlaid with
paduak, ebony and maple. The fingerboard
inlays are made from turquoise gemstone.
They were constructed in the foothills of the
Japanese Alps, where artisans created
instruments of special beauty. Each guitar
featured only the finest well-seasoned woods
and was made using a combination of modern
woodworking techniques and traditional hand
craftsmanship. This guitar originally sold for
US $3500.00, and can be bought today for NZ
$2000 to $3000.
1952 Vincent Black
Lightning
The 1993 Takamine Santa Fe is a
rewrite of this classic ballad by Richard
Thompson.The Vincent Black Lightning made in
1952 was a souped-up Vincent that could reach
speeds of 240 kph - it broke a motorcycle
world speed record in 1953.
"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 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.
The Fishfinger song
Lincoln has written a Kiwi rewrite of this
also.
Twas
in the year of 94, or was it 93?
That we set sail from Nelson, bound for the
Southern Sea
The storms they was a-ra-ji-ing, the waves
came crashing down
It took us forty days, me boys, to reach
Dunedin town.... MORE
