Рет қаралды 824,863
A tribute to one of Russiaʻs most influential and colorful leaders. Born Sophie Friederike Auguste von Anhalt-Zerbst-Dornburg (1729). Received the name Catherine after joining the Russina Orthodox Church. Married Peter, the Grand Duke of Holstein-Gottorp, who succeeded to the throne as Peter III of Russia, with Catherine as Empress Consort. Six months later, she orchestrated Peterʻs abdication, leaving Catherine to rule as Empress of Russia. (original remake of the instrumental)
LYRICS
A German princess headed north at age fifteen
Hand-picked for the Russian Duke his name was Peter III (Fyodorovich)
Married and converted to Russian Orthodoxy
Learned the customs and the language say goodbye to “Sophie”!
Oh, oh, oh, oh
So overwrought when she tied the knot
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Her love Orlov helped her with the plot
Followed through with the coup
And Peter forced to abdicate
(Empress of Russia, baby)
Seized the throne for her own
Peter was killed; that was his fate
(Empress of Russia, baby)
Catherine the Great (of all Russia)
Expanded Russia through two Russo-Turkish Wars
Bits of Poland and Ukraine, got access to warm-water ports
Her improved legal system called “The Instruction”
Great for the nobility; for serfs it’s no fun
Oh, oh, oh, oh
She got her shot, such an autocrat
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Pugachev caught- rebel killed on the spot
Westernize; modernize
She idolized Peter the Great
(Emperor of Russia , baby)
Liked to write the Enlightenment philosophes of the day
(She was a thinker, baby)
Catherine, Catherine the Great (of all Russia)
All my lovers tend to help me in policy
And when we’re done, like Potemkin
No denying I give them land and peasants or money
I advanced education
Took the first vaccination!
Progressive, ambitious
St. Petersburg, the “Northern Venice”
It’s no lie
She gave rights and privilege to the gentry
(Wanted to please them, maybe)
Made a school with harsh rules
For girls of the nobility
(And opened Japan to trading)
Westernize; modernize
She idolized Peter the Great
(Built him a statue ,baby)
And that lie how she died
Has caused her legacy disgrace
(Loved horses but not in that way!)
Loved the arts
Voltaire called her the “Star of the North”, yeah
(The Hermitage was her collection)
Died of stroke
It’s no joke
Thirty-four years of glorious reign
(She gave Russia some direction)
Catherine the Great