Lie-abed, unknown character in ballad with doctor
I believe the answer is:
lazybones
'lie-abed unknown' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?
'character in ballad with doctor' is the wordplay.
'character in ballad' becomes 'lazy' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'with' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'doctor' becomes 'bones' (I've seen this before).
'lazy'+'bones'='LAZYBONES'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for lazybones that I've seen before include "Idle person" , "Idler (colloq.)" , "Couch potato?" , "He does nothing" , "Shirker" .)