The Lambton Worm I know is a "traditional" Tyneside song about a legend associated with Sir John Lambton of Chester Le Stree County Durham. It certainly pre-dates this century - my grandfather (born 1885) used to sing it at school in Blaydon (also then County Durham) and taught it to me when I was very young, in the 1950's.

The song refers to Penshaw Hill. The hill is near Washington (NOT D.C. but the original one) and has a "stepped" appearance as if something rather large had indeed curled its tail ten times aroond.