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There lived a certain man in Russia long ago 00:55

He was big and strong, in his eyes a flaming glow 00:59

Most people looked at him with terror and with fear 01:03

But to Moscow chicks, he was such a lovely dear 01:06

He could preach the Bible like a preacher 01:11

Full of ecstasy and fire 01:14

But he also was the kind of teacher 01:17

Women would desire 01:22

Ra-Ra-Rasputin 01:26

Lover of the Russian queen 01:28

There was a cat that really was gone 01:30

Ra-Ra-Rasputin 01:33

Russia's greatest love machine 01:35

It was a shame how he carried on 01:37

But when his drinking and lusting 01:50

And his hunger for power became known to more and more people 02:03

The demands to do something about this outrageous man 02:05

Became louder and louder 02:08

"This man's just got to go", declared his enemies 02:09

But the ladies begged, "Don't you try to do it, please" 02:09

No doubt this Rasputin had lots of hidden charms 02:10

Though he was a brute, they just fell into his arms 02:11

Then one night, some men of higher standing 02:11

Set a trap, they're not to blame 02:11

"Come to visit us", they kept demanding 02:12

And he really came 02:12

Ra-Ra-Rasputin 02:12

Lover of the Russian queen 02:13

They put some poison into his wine 02:13

Ra-Ra-Rasputin 02:14

Russia's greatest love machine 02:14

He drank it all and said, "I feel fine" 02:15

Ra-Ra-Rasputin 02:15

Lover of the Russian queen 02:15

They didn't quit, they wanted his head 02:16

Ra-Ra-Rasputin 02:16

Russia's greatest love machine 02:16

And so they shot him 'til he was dead 02:17

Oh, those Russians 02:17

02:18

Rasputin

Boney M.

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Lyrics:

[English]

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 ecstasy 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

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 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

Oh, those Russians

...

Vocabulary in this song:

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Vocabulary	Meanings
man /mæn/ A2	noun - an adult male human
power /ˈpaʊər/ B2	noun - the ability to do something or act in a particular way
glow /ɡloʊ/ B1	noun - a steady light that is not very bright verb - to produce a steady light
preach /priːtʃ/ B2	verb - to give a religious talk
desire /dɪˈzaɪər/ B2	noun - a strong feeling of wanting something verb - to want something very much
queen /kwiːn/ A2	noun - a female ruler of a kingdom
machine /məˈʃiːn/ A2	noun - a device that makes work easier
poison /ˈpɔɪzən/ B2	noun - a substance that can cause death or illness
demand /dɪˈmænd/ B2	noun - a strong request for something to be done verb - to ask for something forcefully
trap /træp/ A2	noun - a device for catching something verb - to catch or trick someone
head /hɛd/ A2	noun - the upper part of the body that contains the brain
dead /dɛd/ A2	adjective - not alive

Vocabulary

Meanings

man

/mæn/

noun
- an adult male human

power

/ˈpaʊər/

noun
- the ability to do something or act in a particular way

glow

/ɡloʊ/

noun
- a steady light that is not very bright

verb
- to produce a steady light

preach

/priːtʃ/

verb
- to give a religious talk

desire

/dɪˈzaɪər/

noun
- a strong feeling of wanting something

verb
- to want something very much

queen

/kwiːn/

noun
- a female ruler of a kingdom

machine

/məˈʃiːn/

noun
- a device that makes work easier

poison

/ˈpɔɪzən/

noun
- a substance that can cause death or illness

demand

/dɪˈmænd/

noun
- a strong request for something to be done

verb
- to ask for something forcefully

trap

/træp/

noun
- a device for catching something

verb
- to catch or trick someone

head

/hɛd/

noun
- the upper part of the body that contains the brain

dead

/dɛd/

adjective
- not alive

Grammar:

There lived a certain man in Russia long ago

➔ Simple past tense to indicate a completed action in the past.

➔ The use of "lived" shows an action completed in the past.
He was big and strong, in his eyes a flaming glow

➔ Adjective phrases describing the subject; use of "was" as linking verb.

➔ The "was" acts as a linking verb connecting the subject with its description.
But he also was the kind of teacher

➔ Past tense of "be" in a predicate nominative expression.

➔ Demonstrates the association of the subject with a specific quality or identity.
Ra-Ra-Rasputin

➔ Repetition for emphasis or stylistic effect; vocative expression.

➔ Used here as a stylistic device and to signal the chorus or a refrain.
They put some poison into his wine

➔ Simple past tense to describe a completed action.

➔ The verb "put" in past tense indicates and emphasizes the completed act of placing poison.
And he really came

➔ Simple past tense to indicate a completed action in the past.

➔ The use of "came" in the past tense confirms that the action has been completed in the past.