The fall of the Grand Armee


As their Tri-color flew
And their mad horses roared
The bloodied men scattered
While the Grand Armee soared

Europe was invaded
All who challenged would fall
Only 'Vive la France'
Through the tears and the pall

Yet an anger was stirred
Slowly seething through time
'You'll go one step too far
And in hell France will chime'

For seven years they watched
While the French raped and scourged
They prayed to find a fault
In the Empire he'd forged

Their prayer soon was answered
A small weakness appeared
The great Tsar of Russia
Turned his back on his peer

Go north, on to Russia
Came the Grand Armee’s call
Europe watched in silence
'Beg the Tsar does not fall'

"God Save Russia” they screamed
From all those who could stand
Leave her burned and plundered
Let the cold take this land

Unseen came the winter
Now the Army would face
Certain death to all men
Who weren’t born of this race

Great cold and starvation
Was as mighty a sword
Neither man nor his horse
Could survive the ice horde

His Grand Armee failing
On that wasteland once prized
He fought to retreat
Before all his men died

As the anger in Europe
Became full in its rage
They vowed to destroy him
Send him back to his cage

Restrained only briefly
The Emperor arose
Once again bringing death
To all who would oppose

But his fate would now lie
On the word of one man
Marshal Ney, though his friend
Brought an end to his reign

Ney had failed to engage
His one chance slipped away
The new morning's dawn saw
Blucher now in the fray

Though Prussia and Britain
Would be praised for the fall
T'was a Marshal of France
Gave the last fateful call