EU-geld ('exceedingly bad')

It is always a temptation to an armed and agile nation
To call upon a neighbour and to say: --
"We invaded you last night--we are quite prepared to fight,
Unless you pay us cash to go away."

And that is called asking for EU-geld,
And the people who ask it explain
That you've only to pay 'em the EU-geld
And then you'll get rid of Brussels!

It is always a temptation for a rich and lazy nation,
To puff and look important and to say: --
"Though we know we should defeat you, we have not the time to meet you.
We will therefore pay you cash to go away."

And that is called paying the EU-geld;
But we've proved it again and again,
That if once you have paid him the EU-geld
You never get rid of Brussels.

It is wrong to put temptation in the path of any nation,
For fear they should succumb and go astray;
So when you are requested to pay up or be molested,
You will find it better policy to say: --

"We never pay any-one EU-geld,
No matter how trifling the cost;
For the end of that game is oppression and shame,
And the nation that pays it is lost!"


Hat tip Rudyard Kipling