MacJams.com - Song: Lambton Worm by elfdaughter

Lambton Worm
by elfdaughter

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Song comments: 6
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Plays: 69
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Submitted on: Jul 30, 2008 - 01:05:43 PM
Last Updated: Jul 30 2008 - 01:05:43 PM

Description A little song from my home county. I aplogise, I don;t have a Geordie accent, but I tried my best! This song is well known back hame, and is based on one of the regions best-known myths.

The story is based around John Lambton, an heir of the Lambton estate in Durham.

The story states that the young John Lambton was a rebellious character who missed church one Sunday to go fishing in the River Wear. In many versions of the story, while walking to the river, or setting up his equipment, John receives warnings from an old man that no good can come from missing church.
John Lambton does not catch anything until the time the church service finishes, at which point he fishes out a small eel- or lamprey-like creature with nine holes on each side of its salamander-like head. Depending on the version of the story the worm is no bigger than a thumb, or about 3 feet long. In some renditions it has legs, while in others it is said to more closely resemble a snake.
At this point the old man returns, although in some versions it is a different character. John declares that he has caught the devil and decides to dispose of his catch by discarding it down a nearby well. The old man then issues further warnings about the nature of the beast.
John then forgets about the creature and eventually grows up. As a penance for his rebellious early years he joins the crusades.

Eventually the worm grows extremely large and the well becomes poisonous. The villagers start to notice livestock going missing and discover that the fully-grown worm has emerged from the well and coiled itself around a local hill. (some sources claim Penshaw Hill, but others claim Worm Hill in Fatfield.) In most versions of the story the worm is large enough to wrap itself round the hill three times, in others it is nine or ten. It is said that one can still see the marks of the worm on Worm Hill. More can be read here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lambton_Worm

Lyrics Lyrics (translation in brackets)

One Sunday morn young Lambton went
(One sunday morning young Lambton went)
A-fishing' in the Wear;
(Fishing in the Wear - one of the two main rivers in the Tyne and Wear county)
An' catched a fish upon he's heuk,
(And caught a fish upon his hook)
He thowt leuk't varry queer.
(He thought looked very odd.)
But whatt'n a kind of fish it was
(But what sort of fish it was)
Young Lambton cuddent tell.
(Young Lambton could not tell)
He waddn't fash te carry'd hyem,
(He couldn't be bother to carry it home,)
So he hoyed it doon a well.
(So he threw it down a well)

cho: Whisht! Lads, haad yor gobs,
(Quiet! Boys, close your mouths,)
An Aa'll tell ye's aall an aaful story
(Ad I'll tell you all an awful story,)
Whisht! Lads, haad yor gobs,
(Quiet! Boys, close your mouths,)
An' Aa'll tell ye 'boot the worm.
(And I'll tell you about the worm.)

Noo Lambton felt inclined te gan
(Now Lambton felt inclined to go)
An' fight i' foreign wars.
(And fight in foreign wars)
he joined a troop o' Knights that cared
(He joined a troop of knights that cared)
For nowther woonds nor scars,
(For neither wounds nor scars)
An' off he went te Palestine
(And off he went to Palestine)
Where queer things him befel,
(Where strange things him befell)
An' varry seun forgat aboot
(And very soon forgot about)
The queer worm i' the well.
(The strange worm in the well)

But the worm got fat an' growed and' growed
(But the worm got fat and grew and grew)
An' growed an aaful size;
(And grew to an awful size)
He'd greet big teeth, a greet big gob,
(He had great big teeth, a great big mouth,)
An' greet big goggle eyes.
(And great big goggly eyes)
An' when at neets he craaled aboot
(And when at night he crawled about)
Te pick up bits o' news,
(To pick up bits of news)
If he felt dry upon the road,
(If he felt thirsty on the road)
He milked a dozen coos.
(He milked a dozen cows)

This feorful worm wad often feed
(This fearful worm would often feed)
On caalves an' lambs an' sheep,
(On calves and lambs and sheep,)
An' swally little barins alive
(And swallow little children alive)
When they laid doon te sleep.
(When they laid down to sleep.)
An' when he'd eaten aall he cud
(And when he'd eaten all he could)
An' he had had he's fill,
(Ad he had had his fill,)
He craaled away an' lapped he's tail
(He crawled away and curled his tail)
Seven times roond Pensher Hill.
(Seven times around Pensher Hill)

The news of this myest aaful worm
(The news of this most awful worm)
An' his queer gannins on
(And his strange goings-on)
Seun crossed the seas, gat te the ears
(Soo crossed the seas, got to the ears)
Ov brave and' bowld Sor John.
(Of brave and bold Sir John.)
So hyem he cam an' catched the beast
(So home he came and caught the beast)
An' cut 'im in twe haalves,
(And cut him in two halves)
An' that seun stopped he's eatin' bairns,
(And that soon stopped his eating children)
An' sheep an' lambs and caalves.
(And sheep, and lambs and calves.)

So noo ye knaa hoo aall the foaks
(So now you know how all the people)
On byeth sides ov the Wear
(On both sides of the Wear)
Lost lots o' sheep an' lots o' sleep
(Lost lots of sheep and lots of sleep)
An' leeved i' mortal feor.
(Ad lived in mortal fear.)

So let's hev one te brave Sor John
(So let's have one to brave Sir John)
That kept the bairns frae harm,
(Who kept the children from harm)
Saved coos an' caalves by myekin' haalves
(saved cows and calves by making halves)
O' the famis Lambton Worm.
(Of the famous Lambton Worm)

Final Chorus

Noo lads, Aa'll haad me gob,
(Now boys, I'll close my mouth,)
That's aall Aa knaa aboot the story
(That's all I know about the story)
Ov Sor John's clivvor job
(Of Sir John's clever job)
Wi' the aaful Lambton Worm.
(With the awful Lambton Worm)

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	Feter said 161 days ago
	Lambton Worm this is impressive ...the feelofyoursinging with the traditional telling story song ..is just amazing I would give this lyircs more concentrated ears to seek between the lines and figure the story you ve wrote on the describtion ..and yes yet another gem . what a voice...thnx alot for sharin !!!!

	said 161 days ago
	Lambton Worm I think you you did well elf I really enjoyed listening to you and reading the lyrics and the story was very interesting too. You are Amazing do you know that. Seriousely :) Thanks for sharing. Peace Dee.

	Skean said 161 days ago
	Lovely voice To a lovely lyrics... It should be fun trying to do some music to this BUT it maybe be hard to do it... It sure stands alone like it is BUT as an challenge it maybe could be fun.... I love it. Take care ---- Kenta

	dirigent said 158 days ago
	Lambton Worm Fantastic!! What a nice performance, you have a wonderful voice. Superb, how you transport the lyrics empathetically and full of humor. Amazing track!! An instant favorite :-) :-) :-)

	E-Frame Wrecker said 157 days ago
	Whisht! Lads, haad yor gobs You have a beautiful voice. Very enjoyable! Thanks for sharing.

	dajama said 50 days ago
	Very cool Lovely singing, and your delivery is light and energetic. You really nail this one. Very cool. Nicely done. Peace.

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