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The story of the Lambton Worm was retold in a song. This song was written in
1867 by C. M. Leumane (possibly from an older folksong). It was performed in a
pantomine at the Tyne Theatre, Newcastle. This version of the song lyrics has
the spellings converted to standard English spelling, to make it easier to
understand. Some of the words are specific to the Geordie dialect (the version
of English spoken in Newcastle) or just not commonly used anymore. These are
explained under the song. There are a number of alternative versions of the
song lyrics. Most only have minor differences in wording and numbers (the number
of halves and the times wrapped around the hill change between versions).
The story is described in more details in
World Dragon Mythology: Europe - Lambton Worm.
The Lambton Wyrm - A Folksong
One Sunday morn young Lambton went a-fishing in the Wear;
And catched a fish upon his hook he thought looked very queer.
But what'n a kind of fish it was young Lambton couldn't tell -
He wasn't fash to carry it home, so he hoyed it in a well.
Whisht lads, hold your gobs, I'll tell you all an awful story,
Whisht lads, hold your gobs, and I'll tell you 'bout the worm.
Now Lambton felt inclined to gan, and fight in foreign wars,
He joined a troop of knights that cared for neither wounds nor scars,
And off he went to Palestine where queer thing him befell,
And very soon forgot about the queer worm in the well.
Whisht lads, hold your gobs, I'll tell you all an awful story,
Whisht lads, hold your gobs, and I'll tell you 'bout the worm.
But the worm got fat and growed and growed, and growed an awful size,
He'd great big teeth, a great big gob, and great big googly eyes.
And when at nights he crawled about to pick up bits o' news,
If he felt dry upon the road, he milked a dozen cows.
Whisht lads, hold your gobs, I'll tell you all an awful story,
Whisht lads, hold your gobs, and I'll tell you 'bout the worm.
This fearful worm would often feed on calves and lambs and sheep,
And swallow little bairns alive when they laid down to sleep.
And when he'd eaten all he could and he had had his fill,
He crawled away and lapped his tail seven times round Pensher Hill.
Whisht lads, hold your gobs, I'll tell you all an awful story,
Whisht lads, hold your gobs, and I'll tell you 'bout the worm.
The news of this most awful worm and his queer gannins on,
Soon crossed the seas, got to the ears of brave and bold Sir John.
So home he came and catched the beast and cut him in three halves,
And that soon stopped his eating bairns and sheep and lambs and calves.
Whisht lads, hold your gobs, I'll tell you all an awful story,
Whisht lads, hold your gobs, and I'll tell you 'bout the worm.
So now you know how all the folks on both sides of the Wear
Lost lots of sheep and lots of sleep and lived in mortal fear.
So let's have one to brave Sir John that kept the bairns from harm,
Saved cows and calves by making halves of the famous Lambton Worm.
Whisht lads, hold your gobs, I'll tell you all an awful story,
Whisht lads, hold your gobs, and I'll tell you 'bout the worm.
Now, lads, I'll hold my gob, that's all I know about the story
Of Sir John's clever job with the awful Lambton Worm.
Word Definitions
Bairns - Children.
'bout - About.
Fash - To trouble or tease. "Wasn't fash" translates to "Couldn't be bothered" or
"Didn't want the trouble of".
Gan - Gan is to go. Gannins on is goings on.
Gob - Mouth. "Hold your gob" basically translates to "Stop talking".
Hoyed - Threw, as in to throw something.
Lapped - Wrapped.
Queer - Peculiar, strange or odd.
Wear - The Wear is the name of the river.
Whisht - Be quiet.
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