Mary Lou Lord first gained notice playing acoustic guitar and singing in and around Boston subway stations (particularly on the Red Line, as noted by the name she chose for her music and lyric publishing company, On the Red Line Music.)
She has claimed that she had a romantic relationship with Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain before the group's rise to mainstream fame. This claim was disputed by some, including Cobain himself, though it has been suggested that Cobain's wife Courtney Love made him publicly lie about his past relationships to prove his devotion to her. In 1994, Lord showed up uninvited at a party for Courtney Love's band Hole, which ended with Love chasing Lord down Sunset Strip.
Lord toured three separate times with Elliott Smith during the 1990s. He also wrote and helped Lord record a song called, "I Figured You Out", in 1997. Smith would later say that, "I gave that song away 'cause I thought it sounded like The Eagles and that it sucked."
Her recordings have been a mixture of covers (including songs by Elliott Smith and Richard Thompson) and original material, with a number of songs written by, or in collaboration with, Nick Saloman of the British band The Bevis Frond.
Her recording of Daniel Johnston's "Speeding Motorcycle" (which was originally featured on her self-titled 8-song Kill Rock Stars release) was featured in commercials for Target stores, after which her label reissued the song as the lead-off track of a CD single which also included two demo recordings from the sessions for Got No Shadow.
In 2001, Lord released Live City Sounds. This was a self-released disc of Mary Lou playing live in the Boston subway. The disc was later re-released after Mary Lou signed to Rubric Records.
She announced in 2005 that she suffered from a rare vocal chord affliction known as spasmodic dysphonia. She thereafter became more involved in A&R work and started Jittery Jack Management with her husband, Kevin Patey.
1952 Vincent Black Lightning
Mary Lou Lord Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A girl could feel special on any such like
Said James to Red Molly, well my hat's off to you
It's a Vincent Black Lightning, 1952
And I've seen you on the corners and cafes it seems
Red hair and black leather, my favorite color scheme
And he pulled her on behind and down to Boxhill they did ride
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 stand 21, I might not 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 McRae
For they've taken young James for armed robbery
Shotgun blast hit his chest, left nothing inside
Come down, Red Molly to his dying beside
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 James, in my opinion, there's nothing in this world
Beats a 52 Vincent and a red headed girl
No Nortons and Indians and Greeves just won't do
They ain't got a soul like a Vincent 52
He reached for her hand and he slip through the keys
He said I have no further use for these
I see angels and 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 the Vincent to ride
The song "1952 Vincent Black Lightning" by Mary Lou Lord is a story about a man named James who falls in love with a woman named Red Molly, and his prized possession, a Vincent Black Lightning 1952 motorcycle. James recognizes Red Molly's beauty and style, and they ride together to Boxhill. Here, he gives Red Molly a ring, confessing his dangerous past, and how the love he feels for her is worth dying for. As fate would have it, he is shot and killed in an armed robbery, but not before giving Red Molly his beloved Vincent to ride.
The song deals with themes of love, freedom, and danger. The Vincent Black Lightning serves as a metaphor for James' sense of liberation and the passion he feels for Red Molly. The song is written in an old-style folk ballad format, which gives it a timeless feel, and it tells a complete story of love and loss in under four minutes.
Line by Line Meaning
Said Red Molly to James that's a fine motorbike
Red Molly compliments James' motorbike
A girl could feel special on any such like
Red Molly feels that a girl will be lucky to ride on such a bike
Said James to Red Molly, well my hat's off to you
James appreciates Red Molly's compliment
It's a Vincent Black Lightning, 1952
James reveals the model and year of his bike
And I've seen you on the corners and cafes it seems
James has seen Red Molly around town
Red hair and black leather, my favorite color scheme
James likes Red Molly's appearance
And he pulled her on behind and down to Boxhill they did ride
James and Red Molly ride together to Boxhill
Said James to Red Molly, here's a ring for your right hand
James proposes to Red Molly
But I'll tell you in earnest I'm a dangerous man
James confesses that he has a criminal past
I've fought with the law since I was seventeen
James has had trouble with the law since a young age
I robbed many a man to get my Vincent machine
James committed robberies to obtain his Vincent motorbike
Now I stand 21, I might not make 22
James is worried that he might die soon
And I don't mind dying, but for the love of you
James is willing to die for Red Molly
And if fate should break my stride
James accepts that fate might interrupt his plans
I'll give you my Vincent to ride
James promises to give Red Molly his Vincent motorbike if anything should happen to him
Come down, come down, Red Molly, called Sergeant McRae
Sergeant McRae asks Red Molly to come to the hospital
For they've taken young James for armed robbery
James has been arrested for armed robbery
Shotgun blast hit his chest, left nothing inside
James has been fatally shot
Come down, Red Molly to his dying beside
Red Molly is asked to be by James' side as he dies
When she came to the hospital, there wasn't much left
When Red Molly arrives at the hospital, James is close to death
He was running out of road, he was running out of breath
James is close to dying
But he smiled to see her cry, said I'll give you my Vincent to ride
James comforts Red Molly by giving her his Vincent motorbike
Said James, in my opinion, there's nothing in this world
James believes that nothing is better than a Vincent Black Lightning 1952
Beats a 52 Vincent and a red headed girl
James thinks that riding on a Vincent with a red-headed girl is the best
No Nortons and Indians and Greeves just won't do
James thinks that other motorcycle brands are inferior to Vincent
They ain't got a soul like a Vincent 52
James believes that a 1952 Vincent Black Lightning has a unique character
He reached for her hand and he slip through the keys
James gives Red Molly the keys to his Vincent motorbike
He said I have no further use for these
James doesn't need the keys anymore
I see angels and ariels in leather and chrome
James has a vision of motorcycles in heaven
Swooping down from heaven to carry me home
James believes that he will be taken to heaven on a motorcycle
He gave her one last kiss and died and he gave her the Vincent to ride
James dies after giving Red Molly his Vincent motorbike
Contributed by Victoria F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.