Carmina Burana
Carl Orff Lyrics
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velut luna (like the moon)
statu variabilis (you are changeable)
semper crescis (ever waxing)
aut decrescis; (and waning;)
vita detestabilis (hateful life)
nunc obdurat (first oppresses)
et tunc curat (and then soothes)
egestatem, (poverty)
potestatem (and power)
dissolvit ut glaciem. (it melts them like ice.)
Sors immanis (Fate - monstrous)
et inanis, (and empty)
rota tu volubilis, (you whirling wheel)
status malus, (you are malevolent)
vana salus (well-being is vain)
semper dissolubilis, (and always fades to nothing)
obumbrata (shadowed)
et velata (and veiled)
michi quoque niteris; (you plague me too;)
nunc per ludum (now through the game)
dorsum nudum (I bring my bare back)
fero tui sceleris. (to your villainy.)
Sors salutis (Fate is against me)
et virtutis (in health)
michi nunc contraria, (and virtue)
est affectus (driven on)
et defectus (and weighted down)
semper in angaria. (always enslaved.)
Hac in hora (So at this hour)
sine mora (without delay)
corde pulsum tangite; (pluck the vibrating strings;)
quod per sortem (since Fate)
sternit fortem, (strikes down the string)
mecum omnes plangite! (everyone weep with me!)
The lyrics to Carl Orff's song Carmina Burana convey a sense of the uncertain and ever-changing nature of life as it is dictated by fate. The first stanza describes Fortune, or Fate, as a force that is both unpredictable and powerful, waxing and waning like the moon. The second stanza describes Fate as monstrous, empty, and malevolent, highlighting the evil and fickle aspects of fate. The final stanza declares that Fate is against the singer, driving them to slavery and despair.
Throughout the lyrics, Fate is portrayed as a powerful force that determines the course of life, melting poverty and power like ice, and defeating even the strongest with its whims. The singer is at the mercy of Fate's whims, forced to bear the weight of Fate's cruelty and corruption on their bare back. The final plea for everyone to weep together suggests that the singer is not alone in their suffering, and that the uncertainties of life and fate are something that all humans share.
Overall, the lyrics of Carmina Burana convey a sense of helplessness and despair in the face of fate, while also highlighting the universal nature of human suffering and uncertainty.
Line by Line Meaning
O Fortuna (O Fortune)
Addressing Fortune as a two-faced entity with unpredictable changes in a person’s life
velut luna (like the moon)
Similar to the phases of the moon, a person’s fortunes never stay the same for an extended period of time
statu variabilis (you are changeable)
Fortune has a tendency of frequent and unpredictable changes in a person’s life
semper crescis (ever waxing)
Fortune is always increasing to make things better
aut decrescis; (and waning;)
At other times, Fortune decreases its favors and decreases the status of people
vita detestabilis (hateful life)
Life is full of suffering and misery
nunc obdurat (first oppresses)
Fortune first oppresses individuals and makes life difficult
et tunc curat (and then soothes)
But later tends to improve the situation and soothe their worries
ludo mentis aciem, (as fancy takes it)
Fortune is unpredictable and goes wherever it wishes leaving only a trail of confusion in its wake
egestatem, (poverty)
Fortune can cause people to be poor and lose everything overnight
potestatem (and power)
Fortune also has the power to make people rich and powerful just as quickly as it can make them poor and weak
dissolvit ut glaciem. (it melts them like ice.)
Fortune has the capacity to break down and melt the wealthiest of people as easily as it can uplift the poorest
Sors immanis (Fate - monstrous)
Fate is portrayed as a monstrous entity that can crush a person’s life
et inanis, (and empty)
Fate is shown to be devoid of any mercy or empathy for an individual, making it all the more terrifying
rota tu volubilis, (you whirling wheel)
Fate is described as a rotating wheel, representing the ever-changing state of fortune for one’s life
status malus, (you are malevolent)
Fate is depicted as a malevolent force that can change an individual’s status from good to bad in a matter of seconds
vana salus (well-being is vain)
Well-being and success is ephemeral; it does not last forever
semper dissolubilis, (and always fades to nothing)
Success is never guaranteed and can disappear as quickly as it came
obumbrata (shadowed)
Fate is shown to be shrouded in mystery and darkness, hence its unpredictable nature
et velata (and veiled)
Additionally, Fate is hidden and unknown, making it all the more terrifying
michi quoque niteris; (you plague me too;)
Fate is said to bring hardships to everyone, including the artist of the poem
nunc per ludum (now through the game)
Here, Fate is represented as a game, where the outcome is always determined by chance, leaving nothing to control
dorsum nudum (I bring my bare back)
The singer in the poem will show their vulnerability and take whatever Fate throws their way with courage, even if it means facing hardship
fero tui sceleris. (to your villainy.)
The artist accuses Fate of doing things that are villainous in nature, although it is just a force without a conscience
Sors salutis (Fate is against me)
The singer believes that Fate is against them and their life is headed for a downfall
et virtutis (in health)
Fate is even against those who try to do good and live a healthy life
michi nunc contraria, (and virtue)
For the singer of the poem, Fate is always acting against them, even if they are acting with good intentions
est affectus (driven on)
Fate is not just a random force, but is instead a driving force moving people forward
et defectus (and weighted down)
However, at other times Fate can also weigh someone down and make it so they cannot move forward in their life
semper in angaria. (always enslaved.)
Thus, Fate is like a jailer, always bound to keep people enslaved to it and its whims
Hac in hora (So at this hour)
The singer once again calls for attention as they face the tide of Fate
sine mora (without delay)
Urging everyone to act without hesitation despite Fate’s terrible character
corde pulsum tangite; (pluck the vibrating strings;)
This line serves as an allusion to a lyre, imploring the audience to evoke certain emotions within themselves that they cannot articulate outright
quod per sortem (since Fate)
The final statement concludes that since Fate can bring anyone down at any moment there is nothing that can do except to accept
sternit fortem, (strikes down the strong)
Finally, anyone can experience hardship or be brought low by Fate, even those that are perceived as strong
mecum omnes plangite! (everyone weep with me!)
The artist asks the audience to join in their sorrow, knowing that all of humanity is in the same boat when it comes to Fate’s cruel treatment
Contributed by Mia T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.