Jacques Brel — Bruxelles song lyrics and translation

The page contains the lyrics and English translation of the song "Bruxelles" by Jacques Brel.

Lyrics

C’tait au temps o Bruxelles rvait
C’tait au temps du cinma muet
C’tait au temps o Bruxelles chantait
C’tait au temps o Bruxelles bruxellait
Place de Broukre on voyait des vitrines
Avec des hommes des femmes en crinoline
Place de Broukre on voyait l’omnibus
Avec des femmes des messieurs en gibus
Et sur l’impriale, le coeur dans les toiles
Il y avait mon grand-pre, Il y avait ma grand-mre
Il tait militaire, elle tait fonctionnaire
Il pensait pas elle pensait rien
Et on voudrait que je sois malin
C’tait au temps o Bruxelles chantait
C’tait au temps du cinma muet
C’tait au temps o Bruxelles rvait
C’tait au temps o Bruxelles bruxellait
Sur les pavs de la place Sainte-Catherine
Dansaient les hommes les femmes en crinoline
Sur les pavs dansaient les omnibus
Avec des femmes des messieurs en gibus
Et sur l’impriale, le coeur dans les toiles
Il y avait mon grand-pre, Il y avait ma grand-mre
Il avait su y faire, elle l’avait laiss faire
Ils l’avaient donc fait tous les deux
Et on voudrait que je sois srieux
C’tait au temps o Bruxelles rvait
C’tait au temps du cinma muet
C’tait au temps o Bruxelles dasnait
C’tait au temps o Bruxelles bruxellait
Sous les lampions de la place Sainte-Justine
Chantaient les hommes les femmes en crinoline
Sous les lampions dansaient les omnibus
Avec des femmes des messieurs en gibus
Et sur l’impriale, le coeur dans les toiles
Il y avait mon grand-pre, Il y avait ma grand-mre
Il attendait la guerre, elle attendait mon pre
Ils taient gais comme le canal
Et on voudrait que j’aie le moral
C’tait au temps o Bruxelles rvait
C’tait au temps du cinma muet
C’tait au temps o Bruxelles chantait
C’tait au temps o Bruxelles bruxellait
Bruxelles

Lyrics translation

It was at the time when Brussels wanted
It was in the time of the silent cinma
It was at the time when Brussels was singing
It was at the time when Brussels was Brussels
Place de Broukre we could see showcases
With men from women in crinoline
Place de Broukre we could see the omnibus
With gentlemen's wives in gibus
And on the impriale, the heart in the canvases
There was my grand-pre, there was my grand-ma
He's a military man, he's a civil servant.
He didn't think she thought nothing
And we want me to be smart
It was at the time when Brussels was singing
It was in the time of the silent cinma
It was at the time when Brussels wanted
It was at the time when Brussels was Brussels
On the pavs of St. Catherine's square
Danced the men the women in crinoline
On the pavs danced omnibuses
With gentlemen's wives in gibus
And on the impriale, the heart in the canvases
There was my grand-pre, there was my grand-ma
He knew how to do it, she had laiss do it
So they both did
And we want me to be srieux
It was at the time when Brussels wanted
It was in the time of the silent cinma
It was at the time when Brussels was born
It was at the time when Brussels was Brussels
Under the lampposts of the place Sainte-Justine
Sang men women in crinoline
Under the lamps danced the omnibuses
With gentlemen's wives in gibus
And on the impriale, the heart in the canvases
There was my grand-pre, there was my grand-ma
He was waiting for the war, she was waiting for my pre
They were gay as the canal
And we'd like me to cheer up
It was at the time when Brussels wanted
It was in the time of the silent cinma
It was at the time when Brussels was singing
It was at the time when Brussels was Brussels
Brussels