We've paid in hell since Moscow burned
As Cossacks tear us piece by piece
Our dead are strewn a hundred leagues
Though death would be a sweet release
And our grande arm¨¦e is dressed in rags
A frozen starving beggar band
Like rats we steal each other's scraps
Fall to fighting hand to hand

Save my soul from evil, Lord
And heal this soldier's heart
I'll trust in thee to keep me, Lord
I'm done with Bonaparte

What dreams he made for us to dream
Spanish skies, Egyptian sands
The world was ours, we marched upon
Our little Corporal's command
And I lost an eye at Austerlitz
The sabre slash yet gives me pain
My one true love awaits me still
The flower of the aquitaine

Save my soul from evil, Lord
And heal this soldier's heart
I'll trust in thee to keep me, Lord
I'm done with Bonaparte

I pray for her who prays for me
A safe return to my belle France
We prayed these wars would end all wars
In war we know is no romance
And I pray our child will never see
A little Corporal again
Point toward a foreign shore
Captivate the hearts of men

Save my soul from evil, Lord
And heal this soldier's heart
I'll trust in thee to keep me, Lord
I'm done with Bonaparte


Lyrics submitted by diluna25

Done With Bonaparte Lyrics as written by Mark Knopfler

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Done With Bonaparte song meanings
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4 Comments

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  • +3
    General Comment

    This is a great, very beautiful, song about the disillusionment felt by many soldiers in Bonaparte's army during the Napoleonic wars. Possibly the best song from the Golden Heart album, because Knopfler's trademark awesome guitar work blends so well with the traditional instruments.

    diluna25on May 25, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I really agree with diluna - this is such an awesome song!

    cantongirlon January 11, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I wonder if the repetition of the "little corporal" reference is intended to bring to mind another corporal who became a dictator and invaded Russia. Napoleon's Retreat and the defeat of the Wehrmacht at Stalingrad are strikingly similar.

    haywardiiion July 13, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    As a student of Nelson and the Napoleonic wars, I love the lyrics to this song....it captures the heartbreak most of Napoleon's soldiers felt who survived his many campaigns.....and now desired to go home....this song I think is a metaphor for all the common soldiers of any wars at any time....regardless of the motivation...it recminds me of when Guderian visited Hitler after Moscow and saw all the books Hitler had on Napoleon's Moscow campaign.....paraphrasing...."too bad he (Hitler) didn't read/learn anything from them".....this song could apply to all the Germans lost on the Eastern front....

    Jemisonon January 26, 2014   Link

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