Rasputin – English Lyrics

• By: Boney M.

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the captivating world of "Rasputin" by Boney M., a disco classic that offers a fascinating, albeit dramatized, glimpse into Russian history. Learning English through this song allows you to grasp vivid storytelling and historical references, all set to an irresistible beat that makes exploring language both fun and memorable. Discover how this iconic track brings history to life with its catchy lyrics and distinct musical style, making it an engaging way to enhance your English vocabulary and comprehension.

[English]

Hey! hey! hey! hey!~~~

There lived a certain man

in Ruassia long ago

He was big and strong

in his eyes a flaming glow

most people looked at him

with terror and 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 kind of teacher

wowen would desire

Ra Ra Rasputin

lover of the Russia 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 Russia land

and never mind the Czar

But the Kasachok

he danced 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

thought she heard the things he'd done

She believed he was a holy healer

who would heal her son

Ra Ra Rasputin

lover of the Russia 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

...

But when he's drinkin'

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

Hey! ~~~

...

This man just gatta 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

Thought he was a brute

They just fell into his arms

Then one night

some 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 Russia Queen

They put some poison

into his wine

Ra Ra Rasputin

Russia's greatest love machine

He drank it all and said

"I feel fine"

Ra Ra Rasputin

lover of the Russia Queen

They didn't quit

They wanted his head

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
man /mæn/ A2	noun - an adult male human being
Russia /ˈrʌʃə/ B1	noun - a country in eastern Europe and northern Asia
queen /kwiːn/ A2	noun - a female ruler of a country
power /ˈpaʊər/ B1	noun - ability to control or influence things or people
lover /ˈlʌvər/ B2	noun - someone who loves another person
machine /məˈʃiːn/ B1	noun - a device that uses energy to perform a task
queen /kwiːn/ A2	noun - a female ruler of a country
carried /ˈkæried/ B2	verb - to hold or support while moving
dance /dæns/ A2	verb - to move rhythmically to music
heal /hiːl/ B2	verb - to become healthy again; to make healthy
desire /dɪˈzaɪər/ B2	noun - a strong feeling of wanting something

Key Grammar Structures

• There lived a certain man in Russia long ago

  ➔ Past simple tense

  ➔ Used to narrate events that happened in the past. Here, 'lived' describes a completed action in history.

• He was big and strong, in his eyes a flaming glow

  ➔ Adjective phrases / Appositive

  ➔ A phrase that describes a noun or pronoun. 'in his eyes a flaming glow' is an "adjective phrase" renaming or describing 'a flaming glow'.

• He could preach the bible like a preacher

  ➔ Modal verb 'could' for past ability

  ➔ 'Could' expresses ability or possibility in the past. Here, it means he had the skill.

• But he also was a kind of teacher women would desire

  ➔ Relative clause with 'would'

  ➔ A clause that provides additional information about 'teacher'. 'women would desire' relates back to 'teacher' or the kind.

• He ruled the Russian land and never mind the Czar

  ➔ Past simple tense with idiomatic expression

  ➔ 'Ruled' is past simple for action in the past. 'never mind' means 'ignoring' or 'despite'.

• For the Queen he was no wheeler dealer though she heard the things he'd done

  ➔ Concession with 'though' and past perfect

  ➔ 'Though' introduces a concession: despite her hearing about it. 'He'd done' uses past perfect to refer to actions before her hearing.

• She believed he was a holy healer who would heal her son

  ➔ Reported speech with relative clause

  ➔ Transforms direct speech into indirect. 'who would heal' is a relative clause modifying 'healer'.

• But when his drinking and lusting hunger for power became known to more and more people

  ➔ Time clause with 'when' and gerund

  ➔ 'When' introduces a time clause. 'Drinking' and 'lusting' are gerunds acting as adjectives or in compound nouns.

• Then one night some men of higher standing set a trap, they're not to blame

  ➔ Passive voice and contraction

  ➔ 'Set' is past simple, but in context passive like 'was set'. 'They're' is a contraction for 'they are'.

• They wanted this man's head

  ➔ Idiomatic expression with past simple

  ➔ 'Wanted his head' idiomatically means wanted him killed. 'Wanted' is past simple.