Lambton Worm

THE LAMBTON WORM

This popular song dating from the 19th century is based on a folk tale of the northern part of County Durham concerning the death of a monstrous mythical creature (not a 'worm' in the modern meaning at all, in fact, but akin to the German 'Wurm' used in its poetic sense of serpent, snake or dragon) at the hands of Sir John Lambton, a crusader knight who was a member of the local landed gentry.

Musical arrangement by K. Trewhitt performed under his direction by the SSG-TSB School Choir (19 July 1973).

1.	One Sunday Mornin' Lambton went A' fishin' in the Wear, And cowt a fish upon his heuk He thowt leukt varry queer But whatn't kind of fish it waas Young Lambton couldn't tell He waddna fash t' carry it hyem, So he hoyed it doon the well. (Chorus) Whisht ! lads, haad yer gobbs, An' aa'll tell yer aall an aaful story, Whisht ! lads, haad yer gobbs An' aa'll tell yer 'boot the worm.	4.	This fearful worm wad often feed On calves an' lambs and sheep, An' swally little bairns alive When they laid doon t' sleep. An' when he'd eaten aall he could An' he had had his fill, He craaled away an' lapped his tail Seven times roond Penshaw Hill. (Chorus)

2.	[Omitted in this version] Noo Lambton felt inclined t' gan, An' fight in foreign wars He joined a troop of knights that cared For nowther wounds nor scars, An' of he went t' Palestine Where queer things him befell, An' varry seun forgat aboot The queer worm i' the well. (Chorus)	5.	[Omitted in this version] The news of this myest aaful worm An' his queer gannins on Seun crossed the seas, an gat te' the ears Of brave and bold Sir John. So hyem he cam an' catched the beast An' cut him in two halves, An' that seun stopped his eatin' bairns An' sheep an' lambs and calves. (Chorus)

3.	The worm got fat and growed an growed An' growed an aaful size He'd greet big teeth, a greet big gob, An' greet big goggle eyes. An' when at neet he craaled aboot T' pick up bits o' news If he felt dry upon the road, He milked a dozen coos. (Chorus)	6.	So noo ye knaa hoo aal the folks On byeth sides o' the Wear Lost lots o' sheep and lots o' sleep An' lived in mortal fear. So lets hev one t' brave Sir John That kept the bairns from harm, Saved coos an' calves by myekin' halves O' the famous Lambton worm. (Final Chorus) Noo lads Aa'll had me gob That's aall Aa knaa aboot the story Of our brave Sir John And the aaful Lambton worm.