I had no gifts
To give you for Christmas,
I wanted to get you a nice one,
I thought of Brussels.
Giving a city, that's vain,
I know that, but I don't care,
Because it's even worse
To give nothing at all.
You would be happy
With a less flashy present,
A book or a CD,
A pair of earrings.
But I challenge you
To fit Saint-Josse or the Gare du Midi
Into a ring or a necklace
Without breaking them.
So Brussels, I will give it to you,
But we mustn't tell anyone,
It would threaten the Crown
And I gave my word,
Which is worth what it's worth.
The King had to get involved,
He argued in court:
"It's my capital, for God's sake!
And it's not a present!"
I replied: "My King, I ask you to stop,
Brussels is a jewel,
This is a time for partying,
It's an ideal gift."
He stuck to his refusal,
I found him stubborn,
And he said: "It's not yours,
And you can't give it away like that.
Brussels is for the people of Brussels."
"I get it", I said to the king,
"But they will know nothing of it,
It will be our secret, My Dear Sovereign"
"So Brussels, I will give it to you,
But we mustn't tell anyone,
It would threaten the Crown
And I gave my word,
Which is worth what it's worth."
"I, who am a commoner -
It's my only title of nobility,
I would like to negotiate,
Stay calm, your Highness."
The King, who is a gentleman,
Considered the issue,
"As it is for a lady,
I will make you a proposition.
Naturally," he told me,
"All of this is strictly between us,
But in exchange I want Paris,
Without which I have lost at life."
Without hesitation I responded,
"It's okay, that can be arranged,
Doing business with you, sir,
It's a pleasure."
"So Brussels, I will give it to you,
But we mustn't tell anyone,
It would threaten the Crown
And I gave my word,
Which is worth what it's worth.
Which is worth what it's worth...
"So Brussels, I will give it to you,
But we mustn't tell anyone,
It would threaten the Crown
And I gave my word."