[Verse 1]
Usher in the rally cries
Revolution's here again
The emperor's bonds are broken
As free he shall remain
Escape, through narrow, was demand
While his reign remained in view
This fight for France, 'til bitter end
He must see it through
[Verse 2]
Coalition forms of many lands
Against Napoleon, west to east
Like dogs of war will take to arms
And soon will be unleashed
Prussian, Russian and Austrian
All follow British lead
At allies' helm is Wellington
Must make his foe concede
[Chorus]
Foreshadowed man of destiny
Soon you will be forced to see
Nations aligning against you
Marking the time your reign is through
(And you will see your 100 days come to an end)
Foreshadowed man of destiny
Soon you will be forced to see
Nations aligning against you
Marking the time your reign is through
(It lies before you, fate shall befall you)
[Verse 3]
Quickly, the allies gather force
Near the Franco-Belgian line
While 124,000 French
March there in double time
As the battle begins
Napoleon springs his audacious plan
He'll attack them on two fronts
Splitting up his warring band
[Verse 4]
As the Prussians sound retreat
Behind they leave 12,000 slain
Most of their force is still in tact
And will live to fight again
Wellington, who felt the loss
Of 5,000 men
Would feel more under cannon fire
Bombardment from the French
[Chorus]
Foreshadowed man of destiny
Soon you will be forced to see
Nations aligning against you
Marking the time your reign is through
(And you will see your 100 days come to an end)
Foreshadowed man of destiny
Soon you will be forced to see
Nations aligning against you
Marking the time your reign is through
(It lies before you, fate shall befall you)
[Guitar Solo]
[Bridge]
Of all the wars I have waged
To propel my nations might
For this I'll be remembered
From now 'til the end of time
If to the Victor go the spoils
I may die an impoverished man
For in the end, irony
Has dealt the cruelest hand
[Verse 5]
The French force was swift and sure
But their attack would be repelled
And though their center battered
The Anglo-Dutch line would be held
As fate or skill would have it
An army moves from the east
The Prussians who slipped through his hands
Would soon spell his defeat
[Verse 6]
The French lines now all broken
And being open to attack
The emperor has no choice
And the old guard pulls him back
There 45,000 wounded or dead
When the fight was finally through
On a 3 mile square of battlefield
Near a town named Waterloo
[Chorus]
Foreshadowed man of destiny
Soon you will be forced to see (Of destiny!)
Nations aligning against you
Marking the time your reign is through
(And you will see your 100 days come to an end)
Foreshadowed man of destiny
Soon you will be forced to see (Of destiny!)
Nations aligning against you
Marking the time your reign is through
(It lies before you, fate shall befall you)