Boney M - Rasputin

Rasputin by Boney M, Music Video, Review and Lyrics

“Rasputin” is a disco song written by Frank Farian and performed by the disco group Boney M.
It was first published on Boney M’s 1978 album Nightflight to Venus.

Boney M - Rasputin Lyrics

There lived a certain man in Russia long ago
He was big and strong, in his eyes a flaming glow
Most people looked 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 ecstacy and fire
But he also was the kind of teacher
Women would desire

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

He ruled the Russian land and never mind the czar
But the kasachok 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

(Spoken:)
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.

“This man’s just got to 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

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 till he was dead

(Spoken:) Oh, those Russians…

Boney M - Rasputin Review and Song Info

The song is a semi-biographical ballad whose subject and namesake is 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 song references Grigori Rasputin’s alleged amelioration of 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”) and that Rasputin’s political power overshadowed that of the Tsar himself. While “Rasputin” accurately indicates that unfavorable rumors damaged Grigori’s reputation, there is no verifiable evidence to suggest that he had an affair with Alexandra.

Released 1978
Recorded 1977
Genre Pop, Disco
Length 4:39 (7″ version), 7:33 (12″ version)
Label West Germany Hansa Records (FRG), United States Sire Records (USA), Australia Atlantic Records (AUS) (SWE)
Writer(s) Frank Farian, Fred Jay and George Reyam (Hans-Jörg Mayer)
Producer Frank Farian

source wikipedia.org

This entry was posted on Monday, February 25th, 2008 at 12:38 pm.