Russian punk trio Pussy Riot were recently convicted of “hooliganism motivated by religious hatred” and sentenced to two years in prison for performing their song “Virgin Mary, Put Putin Away” in a Russian cathedral shortly after Vladimir Putin was elected president.
Other Pussy Riot songs have controversial lyrics, but it was the fact that they performed “Virgin Mary, Put Putin Away” in public and in a cathedral that landed the band in jail.
Below you can take a look at the song’s lyrics, as found on Pussy Riot’s website.
“Virgin Mary, Put Putin Away” Lyrics (translated from Russian)
Virgin Mary, Mother of God, put Putin away
?ut Putin away, put Putin away
Black robe, golden epaulettes
All parishioners crawl to bow
The phantom of liberty is in heaven
Gay-pride sent to Siberia in chains
The head of the KGB, their chief saint,
Leads protesters to prison under escort
In order not to offend His Holiness
Women must give birth and love
Shit, shit, the Lord’s shit!
Shit, shit, the Lord’s shit!
Virgin Mary, Mother of God, become a feminist
Become a feminist, become a feminist
The Church’s praise of rotten dictators
The cross-bearer procession of black limousines
A teacher-preacher will meet you at school
Go to class – bring him money!
Patriarch Gundyaev believes in Putin
Bitch, better believe in God instead
The belt of the Virgin can’t replace mass-meetings
Mary, Mother of God, is with us in protest!
Virgin Mary, Mother of God, put Putin away
?ut Putin away, put Putin away