Flemish girls dance with nothing to say
They will not speak except on Sundays
Flemish girls dance with nothing to say
Being Flemish means not speaking
They dance because they’re twenty years old
And at that age they must become engaged
And if they’re engaged they’ll be able to marry
And if they’re married they can have children
That is what their parents tell them
So does the priest and His Eminence
The bishop preaching at the convent
And this is what they’re dancing for
Flemish girls dance without trembling
They only tremble if it’s Sunday
Flemish girls dance without trembling
Being Flemish means not trembling
They dance because they’re thirty years old
And at that age they like to show
Although they’ve children of their own
They haven’t yet reached middle age
These children make their parents proud
And the priest and His Eminence
The bishop preaching at the convent
And this is what they’re dancing for
Flemish girls dance without smiling
They will not smile in a month of Sundays
Flemish girls dance without smiling
Being Flemish means not smiling
They dance because they’re seventy
And at that age they like to show
They have not faded with the years
Impressing their grandchildren
Who all dress in black like their parents
And like the priest and His Eminence
The bishop rambling away at the convent
It’s for their inheritances that they dance
Flemish girls dance without tiring
They never rest except on Sundays
Flemish girls dance without tiring
Being Flemish means not tiring
They dance because they’re a hundred years old
And at that age they like to show
They still have quick and nimble feet
And still have a reason to dance
They know they will soon meet their parents
And the priest and His Eminence
The bishop droning on at the convent
And it’s for this they have one last dance