The Lambton Worm One Sunda morn young Lambton went A-fishing in the Wear; An' catched a fish upon he's heuk (=caught) (=his hook) He thowt leuk't vary queer. (=thought looked very strange) But whatt'n a kind ov fish it was (=what kind of) Young Lambton cudden't tell; He waddn't fash te carry'd hyem (=could not be bothered to carry it home) So he hoyed it doon a well. (=threw it down) Whisht! lads, haad yor gobs, (=Be quiet, boys, shut your mouths) An' aa'll tell ye aall an aaful story, (=I'll tell you all an awful) Whisht! lads, haad yor gobs, An' Aa'll tel ye 'boot the worm. (=about) Noo Lambton felt inclined te gan (=go) An' fight i' foreign wars. He joined a troop ov Knights that cared For nowther woonds nor scars, (=neither wounds) An' off he went te Palestine Where queer things him befel, An varry seun forgat aboot (=very soon forgot about) The queer worm i' tha well. Whisht! lads, haad yor gobs, An' aa'll tell ye aall an aaful story, Whisht! lads, haad yor gobs, An' Aa'll tel ye 'boot the worm. But the worm got fat an' grewed an' grewed, An' grewed an aaful size; He'd greet big teeth, a greet big gob, An greet big goggly eyes. An' when at neets he craaled aboot (=nights) (=crawled around) Te pick up bits o' news, If he felt dry upon the road, He'd milk a dozen coos. (=cows) Whisht! lads, haad yor gobs, An' aa'll tell ye aall an aaful story, Whisht! lads, haad yor gobs, An' Aa'll tel ye 'boot the worm. This feorful worm would often feed (=fearful) On caalves an' lambs an' sheep, An' swally little bairns alive (=swallow) (=children) When they laid doon te sleep. An when he'd eaten aall he cud (=all he could) An' he had had he's fill, He craaled away an' lapped he's tail (=wrapped) Ten times roond Pensha Hill. (=Penshaw Hill, a local landmark) Whisht! lads, haad yor gobs, An' aa'll tell ye aall an aaful story, Whisht! lads, haad yor gobs, An' Aa'll tel ye 'boot the worm. The news ov this myest aaful worm (=most) An' his queer gannins on (=goings-on) Seun crossed the seas, gat te the ears (=soon) (=got to) Ov brave an' bowld Sor John. (=bold Sir John) So hyem he cam an' catched the beast, (=home he came and caught) An' cut 'im in twe haalves, (=cut him in two-halves) An' that seun stopped hes eatin' bairns An' sheep an' lambs an' caalves. Whisht! lads, haad yor gobs, An' aa'll tell ye aall an aaful story, Whisht! lads, haad yor gobs, An' Aa'll tel ye 'boot the worm. So noo ye knaa hoo aall the foaks (=now you know how all the folk) On byeth sides ov the Wear (=both) Lost lots o' sheep an' lots o' sleep An leeved i' mortal feor. (=And lived in mortal fear) So let's hev one te brave Sor John (=let's drink to) That kept the bairns frae harm, (=from) Saved coos an' calves by myekin' haalves (=making halves) O' the famis Lambton Worm. (=famous) Noo lads, Aa’ll haad me gob, (=I'll hold my mouth. Stop speaking) That’s aall Aa knaa aboot the story (=All I known about) Of Sor John’s clivvor job (=clever) Wi’ the aaful Lambton Worm.
