There's a memorable sci-fi story from the 40s where a researcher in a long dead town hears some pitiful creatures living in the leftover sewers. They are singing an old song:

Balasamo, balasamo Sarnocorpano!
Binomosha, sadarosha!
Chu mila balasamo!

At the end of the tale the researcher is dying in the ruins and he realizes the singers were once human, and are reciting almost ritualistically the words:

Bless 'em all, bless 'em all, sergeants and corporals all!
There'll be no promotion this side of the ocean,
So cheer up my lads, bless 'em all.

He knows he is in London, after the Ten Minutes War.