Lyrics to The Lambton Worm
Lyrics to the song The Lambton Worm as recorded by Bryan Ferry.
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
The Lambton Worm
Album Track
The Lambton Worm is a traditional folk song from Bryan Ferry's home area in Northumbria. Bryan recorded this song for a limited edition charity album Northumbria Anthology. Bryan's recording of the song also featured fellow Geordie and Roxy drummer Paul Thompson on Backing Vocals as well as Mark Smith and Mick Green on backing vocals. Paul Campbell played: Dobro, Mandolin and programming. Steve Dagget did the programming as well as some backing vocals and the track was produced by Paul and Steve Campbell.
This is a compilation album of renowned artists from the North East of England recording their favorite regional folk songs in a contemporary style. Hailing from Washington, County Durham, Mr. Ferry has chosen the classic LAMBTON WORM
THE LEGEND OF THE LAMBTON WORM
During the Middle Ages, a young member of the Lambton family chose to fish on a Sunday despite warnings that it was unlucky. On this particular day he caught nothing but a worm and in anger, threw it into the well.
Some years later, while Lambton was away fighting the Crusades, the worm emerged from the well, a huge and ferocious beast. It devastated the land killing all in its path and continued to grow, coiling its massive body around the hillsides. On his return from the Holy Land, the brave young Lambton sought help from a witch on how best to slay the beast, but he was told that if he killed the creature, he would have to slay the very next living thing he met. The worm was killed but sadly, it was Lambton's father who passed by, and the young crusader, unable to murder him,reneged on his promise to the witch and condemned his family to a curse of untimely deaths that continued for nine generations.
Song Musicians
- Bryan Ferry Vocals
- Paul Thompson Backing Vocals
- Mark Smith Backing Vocals
- Mick Green Backing Vocals