Coco came across the Lambton Worm recently, in proper dialect sung in a wonnerful Geordie accent. It is a tale about a young squire who went fishing on a Sunday morning when he should not have done with terrible consequences for the people who lived on both sides of the Wear.
Apologies to those who understand neither spoken nor written Geordie. There is a partial transcription here, but if this works properly you shall see that embedded below in an iframe. Some words do still defeat Coco. Apologies to those who do speak and read Geordie also for orthographic, linguistic, dialectical, grammatical, innocent and deliberate errors. Please pay careful attention to the refrain, as it asks you to do.
| Original Lambton worm | Transcription |
|---|---|
| One Sunday morn young Lambton went Afishing’ in the Wear; An’ catched a fish upon he’s heuk, He thowt leuk’t varry queer. But whatt’n a kind of fish it was Young Lambton cuddent tell. He waddn’t fash te carry’d hyem, So he hoyed it doon a well. Whisht! Lads, haad yor gobs, An Aa’ll tell ye’s aall an aaful story Whisht! Lads, haad yor gobs, An’ Aa’ll tell ye ‘boot the wohrm. Noo Lambton felt inclined te gan An’ fight i’ foreign wars. he joined a troop o’ Knights that cared For nowther woonds nor scars, An’ off he went te Palestine Where queer things him befel, An’ varry seun forgat aboot The queer wohrm i’ the well. Ref… But the wohrm got fat an’ growed and’ growed An’ growed an aaful size; He’d greet big teeth, a greet big gob, An’ greet big google eyes. An’ when at neets he craaled aboot Te pick up bits o’ news, If he felt dry upon the road, He milked a dozen coos. Ref… This feorful wohrm wad often feed On caalves an’ lambs an’ sheep, An’ swally little bairns alive When they laid doon te sleep. An’ when he’d eaten aall he cud An’ he had had he’s fill, He craaled away an’ lapped he’s tail Seven times roond Pensher Hill. Ref… The news of this myest aaful wohrm An’ his queer gannins on Seun crossed the seas, gat te the ears Ov brave and’ bowld Sor John. So hyem he cam an’ catched the beast An’ cut ‘im in twe haalves, An’ that seun stopped he’s eatin’ bairns, An’ sheep an’ lambs and caalves. Ref… So noo ye knaa hoo aall the foaks On byeth sides ov the Wear Lost lots o’ sheep an’ lots o’ sleep An’ leeved i’ mortal feor. So let’s hev one te brave Sor John That kept the bairns frae harm, Saved coos an’ caalves by myekin’ haalves O’ the famis Lambton Wohrm. Noo lads, Aa’ll haad me gob, That’s aall Aa knaa aboot the story Ov Sor John’s clivvor job Wi’ the aaful Lambton Wohrm. | One Sunday morn young Lambton went Fishing in the Wear; And caught a fish upon his hook, He thought looked very queer. But what kind of fish it was Young Lambton could not tell. He was not keen to carry it home, So he hoyed it down a well. Shush! Lads, hold your tongues, And I’ll tell you all an awful story Shush! Lads, hold your tongues, And I’ll tell you about the worm. Now Lambton felt inclined to go 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 things him befell, And very soon forgot about The queer worm in the well. Ref. But the worm grew fat and grew and grew And grew to an awful size; He’d great big teeth, a greet big mouth, And great big googly eyes. And when at night he crawled about To pick up bits of news, If he felt dry upon the road, He milked a dozen cows. Ref. 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 wrapped his tail Seven times round Penshaw Hill. Ref. The news of this most awful worm And his queer goings on Soon crossed the seas and to the ears Of brave and bold Sir John. So home he came and caught the beast And cut him in two halves, And that soon stopped him eating bairns, And sheep and lambs and calves. Ref. 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 a drink to brave Sir John That kept the bairns from harm, Saved cows and calves by making halves Of the famous Lambton Worm. Now lads, I’ll hold my tongue, That’s all I know about the story Of Sir John’s clever/cleaver* job On the awful Lambton Worm. |
Words: C M Leumane – Lambton Worm Music: C M Leumane
The copyright of this arrangement of the music for the Lambton Worm is held by The Mitford Family (© c.1984).
The Lambton Worm is a traditional song. This version was produced in the 19th century by Leumane. The transcription into standard English is mine. The singer in the Lambton Worm is, I think, Julie Mitford. You will find a reference to the song here, where she says Eventually you’ll be able to access all of the recordings for each album. The Worm is not yet on her blog, but I take it that she means it will become available as an mp3, in a similar manner to the other songs which she recorded with her father, and are already available.