Folklore: Breathes there a man...

Subject: Folklore: Breathes there a man...
From: GUEST,PMB
Date: 25 Jun 07 - 04:05 AM

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?

Subject: RE: Folklore: Breathes there a man...
From: Anglo
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 02:32 AM

Maybe not. But let's go to the top of the pile and try again.