@IHaveAPodXTLive : Whose assumption is that because it's certainly not mine. I don't recall saying people could not react emotionally or intellectually to what you describe as popular music. I would probably argue that an irrational emotional reaction to any kind of music occurs first and is followed by a more rational intellectual response as the listener attempts to decipher or assign meaning, but hey, just another theory of mine, feel free to ignore as you wish.
A great song and fabulous guitar playing. I agree: When does he get the recognition he so richly deserves? Many less talented singer-songwriters are selling big time. How is that?
I can't say anything that the top two comments here hasn't said. Thompson is a one-of-a-kind performer, and hasn't seemed to slow any with age. I love the dude.
@sanchezzzzzzzzzz The top four strings are standard, but the 5th string A is tuned down to G and the 6th string E is tuned down to C.. so part open G and part C?
This is just a theory of mine so ignore as you please, but I reckon artists like Richard Thompson probably feel they get all the recognition they deserve already because their music, far from being commercially driven, is appreciated live by an audience which realises the real genius lies not in selling units but in making people react emotionally and intellectually to the sounds they hear. Let's face it, anyone can flash their nipples to a kareoke backing track can't they?
There are many artists out there who follow their own muse, and not the one dictated by current trends or threats from a record company, although that can be a point of motivation!
Many artists, like Richard, actually have to budget, and earn much of their money from live shows, just so they can make a new record, and his albums are better than most!
I believe it was recorded for a British TV show and it was actually in a hotel room. There are many versions of him performing this song on Youtube, but I think the best is a more recent one recorded for a BBC songwriters circle which also featured Suzanne Vega and Louden Wainwright III.
Sickens me that if you ask people who Richard Thompson is they probably won't know, but ask them who Justin Beiber or Lady Gaga and they know instantly......
@blitzr0809 why do you even both to mention their names, esp. that little record co. profit making creation? Why should I have to see his name under the brilliant Richard Thompson's video?
@rubberplantsandwich i don't believe in god... but i have faith that i'll always enjoy Richard Thompson... saw him years ago in a pub, was able to stand stage side, beer in hand, and realised i was surrounded by guitarists skiving off playing in bar bands just to come see him play. best guitar playing in Halifax i've ever seen... and i suspect seen by anyone else who attended that night...
All song writers have that one song hey wish they wrote... well this ones the one for me. Wow. Is he in his living room or something? How cool is that?
Thanks so much for posting this. I've never seen it played, but have had his cassette tape in my toolbox for years. What a tale of a song! Beautiful guitar work!
Good Gawd! How could anyone dislike this! I, Mah Own Damned Self, have wept every time Ah've heard it for the last twenty years....Mr. Thompson has won a plethora of Indulgences from The Higher Powers for the magisterial work of his hands/mind .....This kind of communion is so rare in music and Ah'll stand proud as a gunfighter on a stack of Eric Clapton records to proclaim R.T. as The Greatest Guitarist Blighty has ever produced...
I've been a big fan since Fairport Convention days.The 1st time I saw him was at Winnipeg Folk Fest. This was 1st song he played. The next piece we we heard was a 21 year old ani difranco playing "Here I Am Playing with the Big Boys Now" RTs jaw dropped. One of my great musical memories on many levels.
Richard Thompson is an amazing guitarist, and uses his limited vocal range masterfully. His songs are stories within or part of the music. I love this guy. I saw him live in Philly at Penn's Landing years ago, and was totally hooked from that moment on.
You know now that I've got the sheet music it's really not that hard if you already have some Chet and Jerry Reed under your belt. It's just a matter of, like anything else, learning it slow and speeding it up. About the worst part for me is the Banjo type flailing he does right before the verse chords kick in. If you can get through the intro you can tackle this song.
@petereroeatgmailcom i could be very wrong but i just posted a response using DGDGBE. seems to work but im not playing exactly the same as the master himself cos hes Richard Thompson and im not...;o)
As a recent Uncut interview pointed out (the obvious).We have plenty of virtuoso guitar players, and the world is overflowing with great song writers.
But Richard is both.
It makes him both rare and vital.
What is also rare, is that he has entered his 60's with no signs of slowing down,but only his expressed wish/motivation to improve!.
Sadly,his contemporaries are either dead,dying,siting on there fat asses,or hosting "reality" shows.
But I suspect that was always going to be the case.
@neohip Not to disrespect what you said, which is all true, except for one small tidbit: I see many guitar players emerging that are both great song writers and virtuosos.
I do follow what the youngsters are up to,and gems are still to be found,but many,even the very best, seem to be copying this generation without hearing a bar of what made them great in the first place!.
They follow the "romance" of the 1960's,rather than what came before.
I think that is sad..Folk was so named because it was about us",folk","people".and ultimately comes from our ancestors of hundreds of years ago,not 40.
@umusuuk What about us metalheads who appreciate this music?? Don't screw the metalheads..thats just silly, coz "the metalheads" are all about TALENT.
One of, if not the BEST song ever written. "In my opinion, there's nothing in this world beats a '52 Vincent, and a red headed girl." Never truer words were spoken.
@ExUSSailor amazing how the passage of time mellows so many things, I owned and raced a Vincent Black Shadow back inthe fifities and sixties, it was a clumsy poor handling bike that without that huge v twin motor wouldn't have drawn a second glance, my Rocket Gold Star was a faster and better short circuit racer, much better. Bob Rose
@mukuru2011 Undoubtedly true. I mean, the Ducati's Desmo singles, and the Nortons, and Triumphs of the era were all better overall bikes. However, there's just something about the Black Shadow, and Black Lightning. The line, "Now Beezers, and Triumphs, and Nortons won't do. They don't have a soul like a Vincent '52". It takes more than technical brilliance to make a true classic.
@dhardinger1 reina collins did a cover not too long ago (album: "austin to boston"). i didnt find it immediately on a youtube search so you're on your own with that one but i've heard it on the radio.
@surreypasty Unfortunately that's pretty much what you'd have to do. There were only 31 Vincent Black Lightnings ever made (between 1948-1952) and they are the most sought after and collectible bikes ever built! I'm not a motorcycle enthusiast per se, but I'd go out of my way to just see one of these!
What a talented person! I love his voice and guitar playing. And to think I'd never heard of him until Slacker recently added him to my custom station with his song "Beeswing". I liked it so much that I had to go looking for more of Richard Thompson's work.
@KateFremont Then you should listen to Mr.Thompson play guitar on" Who knows where the time goes" from when he was in Fairport Convention.Sung beautifully by the late great Sandy Denny( for me the U.Ks finest female singer) A stunning combination...
@Gothamauto so did those robbed by Jesse James, Pretty Boy Floyd, John Wesley Harding, etc. etc. etc. Thompson doesn't make a hero of Ade. He makes a song out of his tragic life. No one I know thinks any better of Ade because of this song.
@OldLeftie Purely a jest, sir. Mr. Thompson wrote a fine song that has the breath of life in it, including the character of James Ade. My little joke was a remark about the stumplike indifference of a handful of YouTubers who voted down this video.
I like to believe that, given the luxury of recording this himself, this is take number nine or something, and that he has some semblance of humanity to his abilities, but in all seriousness it's almost certainly his first and only take.
Amazing tune! You can fake it in standard tuning with a capo at the 1st, A D E B progression, but unless you can fingerpick like hell.... Why bother! LOL
@hulleeseeya Please oh please don't be intimidated by it; I was too and it's become such a fun thing. Don't start with something like this. A lot of Rolling Stones songs are in an Alternate Tuning (I think Open D). Or a good one to start with is Goo Goo Dolls' song Name. It's all strumming and fairly simple. Or you can try Pearl Jam's Daughter; it's a weird strum that takes a little bit to get used to.
@hulleeseeya Also for struming there's Bruce Springsteen's Devil's and Dust or Coldplay's Til Kingdom Come or Led Zeppelin's Kasmir (in DADGAD). For fingerpicking, I don't know a lot of Crosby Still and Nash is in alternate tunings. Trust me on this, once you tune you're guitar differently and it sounds EXACTLY like the person playing; you'll be happy.
An amazin' version of an amazin' song — and in an up-close home-room settin' with a legend. Still, there will always be sad people who don't know music — let's face it, the X-Factor proves that. Maybe "misakisheraz" is one of those, but the only thing to hope for his that she (or he?) will someday start to appreciate real music.
Every time I hear this song tears fill my eyes. It was played at my mom's funeral by an extraordinary musician. I couldn't imagine a better song to have had played there. She rode a Harley not a Vincent but on the bike is where she belonged. Always had a genuine smile while she was riding. Thank you Richard Thompson for creating a song that helps me keep the memory of my mom close, red hair and all.
People that think Slash is a way better guitarist obviously have no real knowledge of guitar. I've seen a lot of people be able to play any of G'n'R 's songs. I've never seen ANYONE even come close to playing this song. Any cover you'll find anywhere will be something completely different. I'd like to see Slash write a song that no one can play.
If you like this video, you have to do what every it takes to go see him live. He is beyond amazing and the musicians that back him up are off the charts too. I cried when I saw this live. There's only one Richard Thompson. He's a musician's, musician. Truely one of the greats.
First time I heard an audio recording of him doing this song (a different recording), I thought it HAD to be two guitars ... but it was live, and he was the only one there. :-)
practice those alternating thumbs lads. Absolutely love this song, just one of those rare gems that stirs something and makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.
I'd chuck my guitar in the bin and quit singing if I heard this too often. Deep joy indeed. Superb version. In fact, the best bedroom recording of anything anywhere by anyone.
That was gorgeous. House concert, eh? I saw the comment "I don't know whether to practice more or throw my guitar in the bin" after the point that I started thinking the very same thing. What a pretty finger picking pattern.
What a beautiful, poetic homage to motorbike. VBL gives me the chills everytime I hear it, and I love the fact that my voice range seems within RT's, so I can sing along without going off key.
Whoa, hang on a sec...has he had his pinky lengthened?? At 2:24 it looks like there's at least an extra knuckle. If I hadn't seen him play this live myself, I'd have said this was totally faked. : )
I tear up _everytime_ I hear this song. Beautiful.
@lostgoneinthebin123 try ridin a decent bike,dig yr axe outta the bin and ENJOY yourself,it,s not a competittion,it,s a game,Even miseryguts above seems to have twigged fr all his spit,n,bile.happyXmas,frm tintriumph. aka me
Some people are just better than everyone else. I love Albert Lee, although even he would struggle with this. I'm shocked, my guitar is fuckin history after watching this, what is the point..
If you have not had the privilege, please, see this man live. There is sometimes a band but he is best when it is just Thompson and ONE guitar. Simply mesmerizing!!!
Finger pickin par excellence-nit pickin as well but how would you take a Blacklighting through town to a cafe?Round the TT maybe and why would he give her the keys -what keys? Well done to Auntie Beeb for this .
@radial250 Yeah,Yeah ! Strictly speaking the Black Lightning was the racing version of the Black Shadow ! The bike that dude broke the speed record lying prone, wearing just his trunks at Bonneville! Ye could stick a numberplate on it though ! Black Shadow would`nae huv the same ring! Peace Ye`all !!
@simpson30 I saw that too with Susanne Vega , crackin gig . Just settled down with a JD & a nice smoke, for a bit of channel surfing after a pig of a day.. wat a way to wind down :)
@oscarfish38 Aye ! I saw that as well ! Richard and Suzanne! Two of my all time faves ! There was a performance from the Cambridge Folk Festival with RT really tearing through this! But it was taking off ! Downloaded it with Realplayer(free)!Might stick it back on if i suss oot how tae dae it ! Heard that other bloke on songwriters Circle before, but cannae mind eh`s name!Peace Ye`all !!
This may be his biggest "hit", and it is a great song and amazing guitar work. But it is not even Richard's best work --as a writer or as a guitar player. He's simply amazing.
Really like Steve Katz in the video responses!
sarahwrightmusicfan 1 week ago
WOW! Just bloody WOW!!!
MrThuggery 3 weeks ago
Richard Thompson: #19 of the 100 best rock guitarists (Rolling Stones)
if Dave Mattacks finally got the praise he deserves I'd be a happier man.
hedgerow215 3 weeks ago
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hedgerow215 3 weeks ago
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hedgerow215 3 weeks ago
@IHaveAPodXTLive : Whose assumption is that because it's certainly not mine. I don't recall saying people could not react emotionally or intellectually to what you describe as popular music. I would probably argue that an irrational emotional reaction to any kind of music occurs first and is followed by a more rational intellectual response as the listener attempts to decipher or assign meaning, but hey, just another theory of mine, feel free to ignore as you wish.
ElJeficitoTheSequal 3 weeks ago
"In my opinion, there's nothing in this world, beats a '52 Vincent, and a red headed girl". Never were truer words uttered!
ExUSSailor 3 weeks ago
Brilliant.
Lampangish 3 weeks ago
A great song and fabulous guitar playing. I agree: When does he get the recognition he so richly deserves? Many less talented singer-songwriters are selling big time. How is that?
adjrean57 2 months ago in playlist YouTube Mix for Richard Thompson 2
You should look up Seamus Ennis.
transliminal 2 months ago
I can't say anything that the top two comments here hasn't said. Thompson is a one-of-a-kind performer, and hasn't seemed to slow any with age. I love the dude.
jpoolerdom 2 months ago in playlist YouTube Mix for Richard Thompson
whats the tuning? is it an open g? or d?
sanchezzzzzzzzzz 2 months ago
@sanchezzzzzzzzzz The top four strings are standard, but the 5th string A is tuned down to G and the 6th string E is tuned down to C.. so part open G and part C?
MichaelCarMusic 2 months ago
Fantastic guitar playing, and RT is a great singer-songwriter as well.
I absolutely love his music!
adjrean57 2 months ago in playlist YouTube Mix for Richard Thompson
pure talent and hard work right there..... really a joy sir.
jazzmann16 2 months ago
great tune amazing voice
spacedragonsinspace 3 months ago
This is just a theory of mine so ignore as you please, but I reckon artists like Richard Thompson probably feel they get all the recognition they deserve already because their music, far from being commercially driven, is appreciated live by an audience which realises the real genius lies not in selling units but in making people react emotionally and intellectually to the sounds they hear. Let's face it, anyone can flash their nipples to a kareoke backing track can't they?
ElJeficitoTheSequal 3 months ago 43
@ElJeficitoTheSequal
saw him in Columbus , Ohio...the best yes
MrOatwaa 2 months ago
@ElJeficitoTheSequal
Yes, you are right.
There are many artists out there who follow their own muse, and not the one dictated by current trends or threats from a record company, although that can be a point of motivation!
Many artists, like Richard, actually have to budget, and earn much of their money from live shows, just so they can make a new record, and his albums are better than most!
neohip 4 weeks ago
@ElJeficitoTheSequal The assumption being that people don't connect emotionally or intellectually with commercial music...
They clearly do. You may not connect to that music, but consider that half of the world is dumb, and the other half is even dumber than those people.
IHaveAPodXTLive 3 weeks ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Yeah...well. What can one say ?
oldbump 3 months ago
An evergreen talent: Mr. Richard Thompson
lastdaysguitar 3 months ago 2
Heard this song for a first time at a local folk music group, I instantly fell in love with it.
MADDRIFT11 4 months ago
Anyone know where this video came from? Looks like he's chillin' in his living room.
larrybud 4 months ago
@larrybud
I believe it was recorded for a British TV show and it was actually in a hotel room. There are many versions of him performing this song on Youtube, but I think the best is a more recent one recorded for a BBC songwriters circle which also featured Suzanne Vega and Louden Wainwright III.
RTFan52 4 months ago
His guitar playing is so good sometimes it sounds like the guitar is trying to catch up with his fingers
tiamoofficial 4 months ago 3
If you could hear an angel play the guitar, it wouldn't sound this good.
erykl777 5 months ago 4
Sickens me that if you ask people who Richard Thompson is they probably won't know, but ask them who Justin Beiber or Lady Gaga and they know instantly......
blitzr0809 5 months ago 6
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Ldale11 3 months ago
@blitzr0809 why do you even both to mention their names, esp. that little record co. profit making creation? Why should I have to see his name under the brilliant Richard Thompson's video?
Ldale11 3 months ago
Du machst gute Musik
3SuperTree 5 months ago
I saw him do this in Treochy last night... Phenomenal!
But how come this was recorded in the future? ( 28/7/11.... and it's 15/7/11 today! )
davidnogoodboyo 6 months ago
The man is a God !!!!! Blessed with genius !
nannerbj 6 months ago
Intense. I feel like I've seen him naked. He's one of the best guitarists living in our world. When does he get his due?
LJansen2010 6 months ago 17
Fantastique !
Galylaire 6 months ago
Im not worthy! How good is that, fantastic fingerpickin and great arrangement that gies KingLeo Kottke a run for his money. Bloody excellent.
wadey485 6 months ago
oh sighhhh... a tremendous song. makes me sad in my insides.
janscronce 6 months ago
there is a god. Richard Thompson is god.
rubberplantsandwich 7 months ago
@rubberplantsandwich i don't believe in god... but i have faith that i'll always enjoy Richard Thompson... saw him years ago in a pub, was able to stand stage side, beer in hand, and realised i was surrounded by guitarists skiving off playing in bar bands just to come see him play. best guitar playing in Halifax i've ever seen... and i suspect seen by anyone else who attended that night...
hippomancy 7 months ago 3
All song writers have that one song hey wish they wrote... well this ones the one for me. Wow. Is he in his living room or something? How cool is that?
hubb123456 7 months ago
Thanks so much for posting this. I've never seen it played, but have had his cassette tape in my toolbox for years. What a tale of a song! Beautiful guitar work!
dapvettes 7 months ago
brill love it, cheers Makem Folk Singer
TheMakemFolksinger 7 months ago
Good Gawd! How could anyone dislike this! I, Mah Own Damned Self, have wept every time Ah've heard it for the last twenty years....Mr. Thompson has won a plethora of Indulgences from The Higher Powers for the magisterial work of his hands/mind .....This kind of communion is so rare in music and Ah'll stand proud as a gunfighter on a stack of Eric Clapton records to proclaim R.T. as The Greatest Guitarist Blighty has ever produced...
lionstanding 7 months ago
@lionstanding ....and I'll be back to back with you...for all his posturing, Slowhand's hardly fit to wipe the sweat from RT's frets
GonzoRecovery 7 months ago 4
Beautiful, pure, raw, makes you want to ride your motorbike
casaamaril 8 months ago 2
Be amazed by his guitar picking prowess, listen to the lyrics and hear a great tale. This man is the most under-rated of artists!
bikermiker55 8 months ago
Just saw him at HOB during the New Orleans Jazz Fest evening concerts, so, so, great!!!
sa65cn1 8 months ago
@sa65cn1 I was there with you. He amazes every time I see him
malcolmandy006 5 months ago
Tuning is CGDGBE
GrungeHippie95 9 months ago
I've been a big fan since Fairport Convention days.The 1st time I saw him was at Winnipeg Folk Fest. This was 1st song he played. The next piece we we heard was a 21 year old ani difranco playing "Here I Am Playing with the Big Boys Now" RTs jaw dropped. One of my great musical memories on many levels.
bruceleier 9 months ago
Richard Thompson is an amazing guitarist, and uses his limited vocal range masterfully. His songs are stories within or part of the music. I love this guy. I saw him live in Philly at Penn's Landing years ago, and was totally hooked from that moment on.
riotdiva 9 months ago
Great singing, guitar playing and subject, thanks for this link Robin...this is a wonderful song for you.
brexander1 9 months ago
Born in 1952 -- but dad would have killed me if I hadn't bought a Harley since he and his father both rode them.
LadyFullMoon71 9 months ago
You know now that I've got the sheet music it's really not that hard if you already have some Chet and Jerry Reed under your belt. It's just a matter of, like anything else, learning it slow and speeding it up. About the worst part for me is the Banjo type flailing he does right before the verse chords kick in. If you can get through the intro you can tackle this song.
mcapanelli 9 months ago
did RT write this as well ???? thanks for posting this
sawabojo 9 months ago
Is it me or does he look like bill from left for dead?
JimmyT989 9 months ago
Flawless!
sidDkid87 9 months ago
he is why i play guitar..
mothulicka 9 months ago
Think the tuning is CGDGBE. Anyone got anywhere with this?
petereroeatgmailcom 9 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@petereroeatgmailcom i could be very wrong but i just posted a response using DGDGBE. seems to work but im not playing exactly the same as the master himself cos hes Richard Thompson and im not...;o)
zneella 9 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@petereroeatgmailcom im sure it is as well thats the way i play it it seems to be correct hope that helps
sawabojo 9 months ago
Amazing really, sounds like an entire band.
insomniac5150 10 months ago
As a recent Uncut interview pointed out (the obvious).We have plenty of virtuoso guitar players, and the world is overflowing with great song writers.
But Richard is both.
It makes him both rare and vital.
What is also rare, is that he has entered his 60's with no signs of slowing down,but only his expressed wish/motivation to improve!.
Sadly,his contemporaries are either dead,dying,siting on there fat asses,or hosting "reality" shows.
But I suspect that was always going to be the case.
neohip 10 months ago 3
@neohip Not to disrespect what you said, which is all true, except for one small tidbit: I see many guitar players emerging that are both great song writers and virtuosos.
gir1258 10 months ago
@gir1258
I do not doubt you!
I do follow what the youngsters are up to,and gems are still to be found,but many,even the very best, seem to be copying this generation without hearing a bar of what made them great in the first place!.
They follow the "romance" of the 1960's,rather than what came before.
I think that is sad..Folk was so named because it was about us",folk","people".and ultimately comes from our ancestors of hundreds of years ago,not 40.
Richard still understands this.
I
neohip 10 months ago
This is real guitar mastery, screw the metalheads who think it's all about being fast and loud.
umusuuk 10 months ago
@umusuuk What about us metalheads who appreciate this music?? Don't screw the metalheads..thats just silly, coz "the metalheads" are all about TALENT.
guitarsehole 10 months ago
Cant stop playing this sensational song on CD and now obsessed with the You Tube offering from Richard The Great.
andyclaret 10 months ago
I've seen him several times, and yes, he can play just like this all alone. He's simply amazing.
sa65cn1 10 months ago
Best song ever.
rustytylenda 10 months ago
Sir, I do Not Think You Are Richard Thompson.. Whats The Point Of Putting This Video With That Name!!!!
ShahAlam524 10 months ago
@ShahAlam524 If that's not Richard Thompson in the video, he has an identical twin.
monkeymandoomteller 10 months ago
@monkeymandoomteller what???
ShahAlam524 10 months ago
A sublime piece of poetry set to music for which words are entirely inadequate to describe the feelings evoked by the storytelling.
taralicious 10 months ago 2
Wow. Just wow. I didn't know anyone could do that with a guitar.
jenj154 10 months ago
One of, if not the BEST song ever written. "In my opinion, there's nothing in this world beats a '52 Vincent, and a red headed girl." Never truer words were spoken.
ExUSSailor 10 months ago
@ExUSSailor amazing how the passage of time mellows so many things, I owned and raced a Vincent Black Shadow back inthe fifities and sixties, it was a clumsy poor handling bike that without that huge v twin motor wouldn't have drawn a second glance, my Rocket Gold Star was a faster and better short circuit racer, much better. Bob Rose
mukuru2011 5 months ago
@mukuru2011 Undoubtedly true. I mean, the Ducati's Desmo singles, and the Nortons, and Triumphs of the era were all better overall bikes. However, there's just something about the Black Shadow, and Black Lightning. The line, "Now Beezers, and Triumphs, and Nortons won't do. They don't have a soul like a Vincent '52". It takes more than technical brilliance to make a true classic.
ExUSSailor 5 months ago
@ExUSSailor : your last sentence is so true.
Koener 5 months ago
Probably my favorite Richard Thompson song.
MarkBuerschaper 10 months ago
Have any women ever covered this song? Seems I remember hearing it sung by a woman once...
dhardinger1 10 months ago
@dhardinger1 reina collins did a cover not too long ago (album: "austin to boston"). i didnt find it immediately on a youtube search so you're on your own with that one but i've heard it on the radio.
LaylaDarling 10 months ago
@dhardinger1 Look up Miranda Russell's version of this song. It's indescribably beautiful.
oliviathefolkie 8 months ago
"red hair and black leather, my favorite color scheme"
one of the best lines in a song ever!!
davidmarie 10 months ago
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davidmarie 10 months ago
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alaskadw 10 months ago
26 people are affiliated with the anti-christ.
RobRobertTheMusicMan 11 months ago
Richard,Had no idea you were a gearhead !!!!!!
crosscoupled 11 months ago
Amazing song ... kinda makes you want to sell your house and track down one of these remarkable motorbikes!
surreypasty 11 months ago
@surreypasty Unfortunately that's pretty much what you'd have to do. There were only 31 Vincent Black Lightnings ever made (between 1948-1952) and they are the most sought after and collectible bikes ever built! I'm not a motorcycle enthusiast per se, but I'd go out of my way to just see one of these!
dhardinger1 10 months ago
so love this song...the love a man can have for his bike and woman in equal measure! lol
adamski177 11 months ago
I learnt all the words of this once, but couldn't find anybody who could play it ...
cinnam0n6 11 months ago
What a talented person! I love his voice and guitar playing. And to think I'd never heard of him until Slacker recently added him to my custom station with his song "Beeswing". I liked it so much that I had to go looking for more of Richard Thompson's work.
KateFremont 11 months ago
@KateFremont Then you should listen to Mr.Thompson play guitar on" Who knows where the time goes" from when he was in Fairport Convention.Sung beautifully by the late great Sandy Denny( for me the U.Ks finest female singer) A stunning combination...
affectionatepunch 11 months ago 2
@affectionatepunch
I just listened to "Who knows where the time goes" -- lovely. I'll have to check out some of the other versions, too, out of curiosity.
KateFremont 11 months ago
26 people have no soul, or no ears.
SFRsongs 11 months ago
magnificnent!!:)
ginaonthebass 11 months ago
26 misbegotten sods were robbed by young James Ade, and still bear a grudge.
Gothamauto 11 months ago 32
@Gothamauto so did those robbed by Jesse James, Pretty Boy Floyd, John Wesley Harding, etc. etc. etc. Thompson doesn't make a hero of Ade. He makes a song out of his tragic life. No one I know thinks any better of Ade because of this song.
OldLeftie 8 months ago
@OldLeftie Purely a jest, sir. Mr. Thompson wrote a fine song that has the breath of life in it, including the character of James Ade. My little joke was a remark about the stumplike indifference of a handful of YouTubers who voted down this video.
Gothamauto 8 months ago
@Gothamauto you, sir are a gentleman and a scholar. It is a pleasure to have corresponded with you,
OldLeftie 8 months ago
@Gothamauto Really? I would love to know more about this story; do you have a source in mind I can go to?
briankofke 5 months ago
@Gothamauto Another 8 obviously rode Nortons & were pipped off the lights on the Nth Circular Rd by a Vincent.
oscarfish38 5 months ago 3
What a guitarist, what a song. How the love of a woman and a machine (can) go hand in hand. RT's definitely still got it!!!!
mhobbs53 11 months ago
I like to believe that, given the luxury of recording this himself, this is take number nine or something, and that he has some semblance of humanity to his abilities, but in all seriousness it's almost certainly his first and only take.
ElWeasle 1 year ago
@ElWeasle
Agreed,this was probably a first take!.
Flash git.
I suppose we can take some solace In that he was once seriorouly pretty,and is infamous for wearing bad hats.
Err no,that doesn't really help!.
Well, I guess we just have to enjoy him for his sublime music.
neohip 1 year ago
in tuning CGDGBE
GrungeHippie95 1 year ago
He describes everything so well... When you done listening you feel like you just read an entire book!
yoursatan 1 year ago
god i have the same name as him
TheRichyboi 1 year ago
ZALGO҉̵̞̟̠̖̗̘̙̜̝̞̟̠͇̊̋̌̍̎̏̐̑̒̓̔̊̋̌̍̎̏̐̑͡… HE ̡̢̡̢̛̛̖̗̘̙̜̝̞̟̠̖̗̘̙̜̝̞̟̠̊̋̌̍̎̏̐̑̒̓̔̊̋̌̍̎… ̔̕̚̕̚ ҉̵̞̟̠̖̗̘̙̜̝̞̟̠͇̊̋̌̍̎̏̐̑̒̓̔̊̋̌̍̎̏̐̑̒̓̔̿̿̿… ͡COMES!!! ̡̢̡̢̛̛̖̗̘̙̜̝̞̟̠̖̗̘̙̜̝̞̟̠̊̋̌̍̎̏̐̑̒̓̔̊̋̌̍̎… ̔̕̚̕ ҉̵̞̟̠̖̗̘̙̜̝̞̟̠͇̊̋̌̍̎̏̐̑̒̓̔̊̋̌̍̎̏̐̑̒̓̔̿̿̿… ̡̢̡̢̛̛̖̗̘̙̜̝̞̟̠̖̗̘̙̜̝̞̟̠̊̋̌̍̎̏̐̑̒̓̔̊̋̌̍̎… ̔̕̚̕̚҉ ̡̢̡̢̛̛̖̗̘̙̜̝̞̟̠̖̗̘̙̜̝̞̟̠̊̋̌̍̎̏̐̑̒̓̔̊̋̌̍̎… ̔̕̚̕̚҉ ҉̵̞̟̠̖̗̘̙̜̝̞̟̠͇̊̋̌̍̎̏̐̑̒̓̔̊̋̌̍̎̏̐̑̒̓̔̿̿̿… ͡҉҉
s ̡̢̛̗̘̙̜̝̞̟̠̊̋̌̍ ̎̏̚ ̡̢̡̢̛̛̖̗̘̙̜̝̞̟̠ ̖̗̘̙̜̝̞̟̠̊̋̌̍̎̏ ̐̑̒̓̔̊̋̌̍̎̏̐̑̒̓ ̔̕̚̕̚ ̔̕̚̕̚҉ ҉̵̞̟̠̖̗̘̙̜̝̞̟̠͇ ̊̋̌̍̎
spuddy83 1 year ago
Amazing tune! You can fake it in standard tuning with a capo at the 1st, A D E B progression, but unless you can fingerpick like hell.... Why bother! LOL
CriticalAir 1 year ago 23
@CriticalAir I'm intimidated by open tuning, no matter how "simple."
hulleeseeya 3 months ago
@hulleeseeya Please oh please don't be intimidated by it; I was too and it's become such a fun thing. Don't start with something like this. A lot of Rolling Stones songs are in an Alternate Tuning (I think Open D). Or a good one to start with is Goo Goo Dolls' song Name. It's all strumming and fairly simple. Or you can try Pearl Jam's Daughter; it's a weird strum that takes a little bit to get used to.
chad80210 3 months ago
@hulleeseeya Also for struming there's Bruce Springsteen's Devil's and Dust or Coldplay's Til Kingdom Come or Led Zeppelin's Kasmir (in DADGAD). For fingerpicking, I don't know a lot of Crosby Still and Nash is in alternate tunings. Trust me on this, once you tune you're guitar differently and it sounds EXACTLY like the person playing; you'll be happy.
chad80210 3 months ago
One of the best songs my ears have ever heard.
TeenieHodges 1 year ago
Black Lightnings are around £100k
rayggallagher1974 1 year ago
Saw him at the Midlands Festival in Ireland: Superb.
rayggallagher1974 1 year ago
this song is worth an O B E ~)
fatbastardh3 1 year ago
anyone know what tuning this is in.???
shred73 1 year ago
@shred73 Its C G D G B E with a cappo on third fret.
digiphonic 1 year ago
@digiphonic ..thanks mate..will have a crack at it!!
shred73 1 year ago
Inspirational mallan824 dont throw it in, Richard Thompson shows what is possible.
Basic raw unpolished what a fabulous ode to young love misplaced youth, man and his machine. What a voice.
Yehbaby1953 1 year ago
England's best kept secret . . .
TheEditingShop 1 year ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
But this is horrible )X( my ear drums are hurting
misakisheraz 1 year ago
He's got his hat on back-to-front... shouldn't someone tell him?
jonesthephones 1 year ago
Wow he can make that thing .....almost talk....
nidgybaby 1 year ago
satanist. red hair and black leather, my favorite color scheme, eh?
ddamico3 1 year ago
An amazin' version of an amazin' song — and in an up-close home-room settin' with a legend. Still, there will always be sad people who don't know music — let's face it, the X-Factor proves that. Maybe "misakisheraz" is one of those, but the only thing to hope for his that she (or he?) will someday start to appreciate real music.
mmcdonn2 1 year ago
Playing a guitar this well is one thing, but being able to write songs like this too? No fair.
mookie1968 1 year ago 2
This comment has received too many negative votes show
This is HORRIBLE
misakisheraz 1 year ago
@misakisheraz you have zero taste, and zero musical knowledge. please go crawl in a hole and learn what good music is before you speak.
TheLaceyKitty 1 year ago 2
Every time I hear this song tears fill my eyes. It was played at my mom's funeral by an extraordinary musician. I couldn't imagine a better song to have had played there. She rode a Harley not a Vincent but on the bike is where she belonged. Always had a genuine smile while she was riding. Thank you Richard Thompson for creating a song that helps me keep the memory of my mom close, red hair and all.
danvallieres 1 year ago 2
A love song about a car?, now thats pretty badass hahaha
clikityclak 1 year ago
@clikityclak its' a BIKE, lamer. Why don't you make a vow not to post again until you graduate from kindergarten?
OldLeftie 8 months ago
@OldLeftie
I like guitar :D
clikityclak 8 months ago
People that think Slash is a way better guitarist obviously have no real knowledge of guitar. I've seen a lot of people be able to play any of G'n'R 's songs. I've never seen ANYONE even come close to playing this song. Any cover you'll find anywhere will be something completely different. I'd like to see Slash write a song that no one can play.
EamonJgod 1 year ago
Finally, with 540,000 views - this man is getting due recognition. Go and buy his albums - you will not be disappointed.
costellodan 1 year ago
I wrote a tribute to all these fine fine pickers on my youtube site. it is called aspic hop. thank you richard for your beautiful music.
azharkamal 1 year ago
love this man!
williammorris1 1 year ago
@misstinwhistle och aye! The lasses too!!
pipertripp 1 year ago
If you like this video, you have to do what every it takes to go see him live. He is beyond amazing and the musicians that back him up are off the charts too. I cried when I saw this live. There's only one Richard Thompson. He's a musician's, musician. Truely one of the greats.
SDjackofspeed 1 year ago
absolutely delicious
little69111 1 year ago
First time I heard an audio recording of him doing this song (a different recording), I thought it HAD to be two guitars ... but it was live, and he was the only one there. :-)
snicky58 1 year ago
As a motorcyclist and a guitar player, this song has a special place in heart.
GilligansIsle1 1 year ago 3
practice those alternating thumbs lads. Absolutely love this song, just one of those rare gems that stirs something and makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.
pipertripp 1 year ago
Wow I enjoyed that, just watched the del mc cory band play it and this one is better by far.
davinceseven 1 year ago
i'm 17 years old, been listening to richard thompson wince i was 12 and i absolutley love everything he's ever done!
ATDemon55 1 year ago
I'd chuck my guitar in the bin and quit singing if I heard this too often. Deep joy indeed. Superb version. In fact, the best bedroom recording of anything anywhere by anyone.
cassiali 1 year ago
That was gorgeous. House concert, eh? I saw the comment "I don't know whether to practice more or throw my guitar in the bin" after the point that I started thinking the very same thing. What a pretty finger picking pattern.
lightnweight 1 year ago
What a beautiful, poetic homage to motorbike. VBL gives me the chills everytime I hear it, and I love the fact that my voice range seems within RT's, so I can sing along without going off key.
internetultrageek 1 year ago
Whoa, hang on a sec...has he had his pinky lengthened?? At 2:24 it looks like there's at least an extra knuckle. If I hadn't seen him play this live myself, I'd have said this was totally faked. : )
I tear up _everytime_ I hear this song. Beautiful.
Aquariac 1 year ago
i wish my fingers could do that. simply awesome
xXMantonXx 1 year ago 2
If you ever have a chance to hear Del McCoury and his band play this...run away!
kenp3L 1 year ago
Perfect!!
quicktothe4 1 year ago 2
25 people have no soul.
lostgoneinthebin123 1 year ago 35
@lostgoneinthebin123 try ridin a decent bike,dig yr axe outta the bin and ENJOY yourself,it,s not a competittion,it,s a game,Even miseryguts above seems to have twigged fr all his spit,n,bile.happyXmas,frm tintriumph. aka me
tintriumph 1 year ago
@lostgoneinthebin123
make that two more people wit out soul..... or heart for that matter!!!
JoshMorrow 10 months ago
Love it that he's just playing in somebody's living room. RT is absolutely the best ever. But you knew that.
moonbeamchaos 1 year ago 3
Thanks for posting this. LOVE this song and Thompson's singin' and pickin'!
melcina 1 year ago
Guten Tag,
ich find den Song super, thank you , Mr. Thompson.....
najasoso 1 year ago
Some people are just better than everyone else. I love Albert Lee, although even he would struggle with this. I'm shocked, my guitar is fuckin history after watching this, what is the point..
stelvans 1 year ago
THE BACKDROP TAKES SO MUCH AWAY FROM THE GUITAR PLAYING
chiconmaui 1 year ago
@chiconmaui Close your eyes and listen?
wook2150 1 year ago
@chiconmaui true, he should be surrounded by the ghosts of great guitar players past and the souls of everyone who ever died on a vincent 52
guyontheend 1 year ago 2
If you have not had the privilege, please, see this man live. There is sometimes a band but he is best when it is just Thompson and ONE guitar. Simply mesmerizing!!!
sa65cn1 1 year ago
It,ll probally be on BBC iPlayer for those who missed it.
oscarfish38 1 year ago
Finger pickin par excellence-nit pickin as well but how would you take a Blacklighting through town to a cafe?Round the TT maybe and why would he give her the keys -what keys? Well done to Auntie Beeb for this .
radial250 1 year ago
@radial250 Yeah,Yeah ! Strictly speaking the Black Lightning was the racing version of the Black Shadow ! The bike that dude broke the speed record lying prone, wearing just his trunks at Bonneville! Ye could stick a numberplate on it though ! Black Shadow would`nae huv the same ring! Peace Ye`all !!
auto4union 1 year ago
richard thompson is a tank.
will42b 1 year ago
Just saw him play this on BBC 4, excellent song.
simpson30 1 year ago
@simpson30 I saw that too with Susanne Vega , crackin gig . Just settled down with a JD & a nice smoke, for a bit of channel surfing after a pig of a day.. wat a way to wind down :)
oscarfish38 1 year ago
@oscarfish38 Aye ! I saw that as well ! Richard and Suzanne! Two of my all time faves ! There was a performance from the Cambridge Folk Festival with RT really tearing through this! But it was taking off ! Downloaded it with Realplayer(free)!Might stick it back on if i suss oot how tae dae it ! Heard that other bloke on songwriters Circle before, but cannae mind eh`s name!Peace Ye`all !!
auto4union 1 year ago
@simpson30 I saw him too with Suzanne vega..and a third musician i dont know the name of....
nidgybaby 1 year ago
it could have had a craven top box on the back
andrewlewis963 1 year ago
The guitar appears to be "open tuned", that's why it sounds like more than one guitarist.
Paradoxicon999 1 year ago
@Paradoxicon999 The tuning is mostly standard except the low E and A string. CGDGBE is the tuning.
judhound 1 year ago
@judhound
Aaaah. Great sound! Good Stuff, I like it!
Paradoxicon999 1 year ago
This may be his biggest "hit", and it is a great song and amazing guitar work. But it is not even Richard's best work --as a writer or as a guitar player. He's simply amazing.
JonathanDaddy 1 year ago