Since Dire Straits disbanded in 1995, Knopfler has recorded and produced nine solo albums and, as with his previous band, produced many hit songs. He has composed and produced film scores for nine films, including Local Hero (1983), Cal (1984), The Princess Bride (1987), Wag the Dog (1997) and Altamira (2016).
In addition to his work with Dire Straits, Knopfler has, as a solo artist, recorded and performed with many prominent musicians, including B.B. King, Chet Atkins, Chris Botti, John Anderson, the Chieftains, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Elton John, Bryan Ferry, George Jones, Phil Lynott, Donal Lunny, Van Morrison, Steely Dan, Sting, Emmylou Harris , James Taylor and Sonny Landreth , sometimes working as a session musician. He has produced albums for Tina Turner, Bob Dylan, and Randy Newman.
Knopfler is a fingerstyle guitarist and was ranked 27th on Rolling Stone's list of 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. Knopfler and Dire Straits have sold in excess of 120 million records to date. A four-time Grammy Award winner, Knopfler is the recipient of the Edison Award, the Steiger Award and the Ivor Novello Award, as well as holding three honorary doctorate degrees in music from universities in the United Kingdom. Knopfler was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Dire Straits in 2018.
Done with Bonaparte
Mark Knopfler Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
The song "Done with Bonaparte" by Mark Knopfler and Emmylou Harris is a poignant reflection on the devastating impact of Napoleon Bonaparte's military campaigns on both soldiers and civilians. The first verse describes the gruesome aftermath of the Battle of Moscow in 1812, where the French Grande Armée suffered a crushing defeat against the Russian forces. The imagery of the Cossacks tearing apart the wounded soldiers and the dead bodies strewn across a hundred leagues conveys the senseless violence and destruction wrought by war. The reference to death being a sweet release highlights the desperation and hopelessness felt by the soldiers, who were fighting for a cause that seemed increasingly futile.
The second verse focuses on the personal experiences of one soldier, who lost an eye at the Battle of Austerlitz and longs to be reunited with his love in France. The mention of "our little Corporal's command" is a subtle nod to Napoleon himself, who was known for his charismatic leadership style and ability to inspire loyalty among his troops. However, the soldier's physical and emotional scars serve as a reminder of the human cost of war, and his prayer for a safe return to France and a future without conflict reflects the universal desire for peace and stability.
Overall, "Done with Bonaparte" is a powerful meditation on the devastating impact of war on individuals and societies. Through vivid imagery and personal reflections, the song conveys the senseless violence, suffering, and loss that accompany military conflict, as well as the enduring hope for a better future.
Line by Line Meaning
We've paid in hell since Moscow burned
We have suffered greatly since our defeat in Moscow and have been through hell.
As Cossacks tear us piece by piece
We were being attacked by Cossacks who were ripping us apart.
Our dead are strewn a hundred leagues
Our dead bodies are spread out over hundreds of miles.
Though death would be a sweet release
Death would be a better option than the suffering we are enduring.
And our grande arm¨¦e is dressed in rags
Our great French army is in tatters and our clothing is in rags.
A frozen starving beggar band
We are starving, freezing, and living like beggars.
Like rats we steal each other's scraps
We are scavenging for food and stealing from each other like rats.
Fall to fighting hand to hand
We engage in hand-to-hand combat with each other.
Save my soul from evil, Lord
I am asking for God's help in saving my soul from evil.
And heal this soldier's heart
Please heal my heart, which is broken from the trauma of war.
I'll trust in thee to keep me, Lord
I am putting my faith in God to protect me and keep me safe.
I'm done with Bonaparte
I am finished fighting for Napoleon Bonaparte.
What dreams he made for us to dream
Napoleon created grand dreams for us to believe in and follow.
Spanish skies, Egyptian sands
We marched into Spain and Egypt under Napoleon's direction.
The world was ours, we marched upon
We believed the world was ours to conquer and we marched forward with this belief.
Our little Corporal's command
We followed the orders of our leader, Napoleon, who was known as the Little Corporal.
And I lost an eye at Austerlitz
I was injured and lost an eye in the Battle of Austerlitz.
The sabre slash yet gives me pain
I still feel pain from the sabre wound I received in battle.
My one true love awaits me still
The person I truly love is still waiting for me to return home.
The flower of the aquitaine
The person I love is from the Aquitaine region of France, which is known for producing flowers.
I pray for her who prays for me
I am praying for the person I love who is also praying for my safe return.
A safe return to my belle France
I hope to return safely to my beautiful France.
We prayed these wars would end all wars
We hoped that these wars would be the last wars ever fought.
In war we know is no romance
We understand that war is not romantic or glorious.
And I pray our child will never see
I hope our child will never have to experience the horrors of war.
A little Corporal again
I pray that Napoleon will never rise to power again.
Point toward a foreign shore
Napoleon often pointed to other countries, and we followed him into battle.
Captivate the hearts of men
Napoleon was able to inspire and motivate us to fight for him.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MARK KNOPFLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@raycooke312
I've met Mark socially a few times and he is a superstar without an ego
His music will live on it doesn't age.
@rosemarygranat
I know it
@Rain-Dirt
So jealous of you.... truly..
@oldsal8648
He was married to my sister for 11 years. Regrettably they divorced. Anyway, I agree. He’s a fine human being. Modest to a fault. Stay safe.
@joannehack7588
💥
@joannehack7588
@@oldsal8648 how many children does Mark have?
@telebob
Sometimes humans can really be wonderful.
@abderrahimserhane1383
🎷
@rjwohlman
I mean... Not Napoleon. But this song is awesome.
@kellywatkins6409
It's part history, part storytelling and all around amazing, Bravo!