The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #102794   Message #2086172
Posted By: GUEST,PMB
25-Jun-07 - 04:05 AM
Thread Name: Folklore: Breathes there a man...
Subject: Folklore: Breathes there a man...
A snippet that my mother used to recite:

Breathes there a man with soul so dead
Who never to himself has said,
I'll swing the lead, I'll stay in bed,
I'm blowed if I can stick it!
If that won't do, why strike me blue,
I'll work my bloomin' ticket!

A parody of a poem by Sir Walter Scott. Working one's ticket is, I think, army slang for obtaining discharge by feigning illness, but the language is clearly more music hall than barracks.

Anyone any idea of the origin?