Rasputin

"Rasputin" is a 1978 euro disco hit single by the Germany-based pop and euro disco group Boney M., the second from their album Nightflight to Venus. The song is a semi-biographical song about Grigori Rasputin, a friend and advisor of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia and his family during the early 20th century. The song variously sensationalizes Rasputin as a playboy, mystical healer, and political demiurge. The tune of the song is based on Turkish song Kâtibim. The song references Grigori Rasputin's alleged healing of hemophiliac Tsarevich Alexei of Russia, and how this endeared him to the boy's mother, the Tsarina Alexandra Fyodorovna (former Princess Alix of Hesse). It also claims that Rasputin was Alexandra's paramour ("Ra Ra Rasputin: lover of the Russian queen - there was a cat that really was gone"). As "Russia's greatest love machine", the "Moscow chicks" thought him lovely. The song states that Rasputin's political power overshadowed that of the Tsar himself in "all affairs of state". When his sexual and political acts became intolerable "men of higher standing" plotted his downfall, despite the fact that "the ladies begged" them not to. The end of the song recounts a modified version of a popular description of the events that culminated in Rasputin's assassination, as perpetrated by Felix Yusupov, Vladimir Purishkevich, and Dmitri Pavlovich of Russia on December 16, 1916 (O.S.). Specifically, the song states that Rasputin's assassins fatally shot him after he survived the poisoning of his wine with a very large dose of cyanide. While the song accurately indicates that many unfavorable rumors damaged Rasputin's reputation, there is no verifiable evidence to suggest that he had an affair with Alexandra. The song rose to the top of the charts in Germany and Austria, and went to #2 in the United Kingdom and Switzerland. It was another number 1 hit for Boney M. in Australia, providing them a second (and last) chart topper in that country (the other one being "Rivers of Babylon"). Although the song was written and performed in English (with a smattering of German - But the kasatschok he danced really wunderbar!), it enjoyed great popularity in the Soviet Union, and is credited with making Rasputin famous again there, although it was omitted from the Russian pressing of the album and Boney M. were barred from performing the song during their ten performances in Moscow in December 1978. During their visit to Poland in 1979, Boney M. performed Rasputin despite being asked not to by government officials. The show was broadcast on national TV the next day, after the song was edited out of their performance. The song has been covered by a number of other bands in varying musical styles, perhaps most notably by the Finnish folk metal band Turisas. Boiled in Lead also covered it in a heavy metal version. The Washington, D.C.-based dance/rock band Ra Ra Rasputin takes its name from the song

[Verse 1] There lived a certain man in Russia long ago He was big and strong, in his eyes a flaming glow Most people look at him with terror and with fear But to Moscow chicks, he was such a lovely dear He could preach the Bible like a preacher Full of ecstasy and fire But he also was the kind of teacher Women would desire [Break] Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey [Verse 1] There lived a certain man in Russia long ago He was big and strong, in his eyes a flaming glow Most people look at him with terror and with fear But to Moscow chicks, he was such a lovely dear He could preach the Bible like a preacher Full of ecstasy and fire But he also was the kind of teacher Women would desire [Chorus] Ra-Ra-Rasputin, lover of the Russian Queen There was a cat that really was gone Ra-Ra-Rasputin, Russia's greatest love machine It was a shame how he carried on [Verse 2] He ruled the Russian land and never mind the Tsar But the kazachok, he danced really wunderbar In all affairs of state, he was the man to please But he was real great when he had a girl to squeeze For the Queen, he was no wheeler-dealer Though she'd heard the things he'd done She believed he was a holy healer Who would heal her son [Chorus] Ra-Ra-Rasputin, lover of the Russian Queen There was a cat that really was gone Ra-Ra-Rasputin, Russia's greatest love machine It was a shame how he carried on [Bridge] But when his drinking, and lusting and his hunger for power Became known to more and more people The demands to do something about this outrageous man became louder and louder [Bridge] Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey [Verse 3] "This man's just gotta go," declared his enemies But the ladies begged, "Don't you try to do it, please" No doubt this Rasputin had lots of hidden charms Though he was a brute, they just fell into his arms Then one night some men of higher standing Set a trap, they're not to blame "Come to visit us," they kept demanding And he really came [Chorus] Ra-Ra-Rasputin, lover of the Russian Queen They put some poison into his wine Ra-Ra-Rasputin, Russia's greatest love machine He drank it all and he said, "I feel fine" Ra-Ra-Rasputin, lover of the Russian Queen They didn't quit, they wanted his head Ra-Ra-Rasputin, Russia's greatest love machine And so they shot him 'til he was dead [Outro] Oh, those Russians