The Lambton Worm

(Traditional, arr. Bryan Ferry)
One Sunday morn young Lambton went
A-fishin' in the Wear
He catched a fish upon his hook
He thowt it very queer
But what kind a fish it was
Young Lambton couldn't tell
He couldn't be fashed to carry it hyem
So he hoyed doon the well

Whisht lads, haad yer gobs,
Aa'll tell ye's aall an awful story
Whisht lads, haad yer gobs
An' Aal tell ye 'bout the worm

Now Lambton felt inclined to gan
An' fight in foreign wars
He joined a band o' Knights that cared
For neither wounds nor scars
An' off he went to Palestine
Where queer things him befel
And very soon forgot about
The queer worm in the well

But the worm got fat an' growed an' growed
An' growed an awful size
With great big teeth, and great big gob
An' great big goggly eyes
An' when at night he craaled about
To pick up bits o'news
If he felt dry upon the road
He milked a dozen coos

Whisht lads, haad yer gobs
Aa'll tell ye's all an aaful story
Whisht lads, haad yer gobs
Aal tell yer 'bout the worm

This fearful worm would often feed
On calves an' lambs an' sheep
An' swally little bairns alive
When they laid down to sleep
An' when he'd eaten all he could
An' he had had he's fill
He craaled away an' lapped his tail
Ten times round Pensher Hill

Now news of this most awful worm
An' his queer gannins on
Seun crossed the seas
Gat to the ears of brave an' bold Sir John
So hyem he came an' catched the beast
An' cut it in two halves
An' that soon stopped him eatin' bairns
An' sheep an' lambs and calves

Whisht lads, haad yer gobs
Aa'll tell ye's aall an aaful story
Whisht lads, haad yer gobs
Aal tell ye 'bout the worm

So now ye knaa how all the folks
On both sides of the Wear
Lost lots o' sheep an' lots o' sleep
An' lived in mortal fear
So let's have one, to brave Sir John
That kept the bairns from harm
Saved cows an' calves by makin' halves
O' the famous Lambton Worm

Whisht lads, haad yer gobs,
Aa'll tell ye's aall an aaful story
Whisht lads, haad yer gobs
Aal tell ye 'bout the worm

Whisht lads, haad yer gobs
Aa'll tell ye's aall an aaful story
Whisht lads, haad yer gobs
An aal tell ye 'bout the worm

last updated: 24 September 2011