Fortune Empress of the World: O Fortuna
Carl Orff Lyrics


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O Fortuna
Velut luna
Statu variabilis
Semper crescis
Aut decrescis
Vita detestabilis
Nunc obdurat
Et tunc curat
Ludo mentis aciem
Egestatem
Potestatem
Dissolvit ut glaciem

Sors immanis
Et inanis
Rota tu volubilis
Status malus
Vana salus
Semper dissolubilis
Obumbrata
Et velata
Michi quoque niteris
Nunc per ludum
Dorsum nudum
Fero tui sceleris

Sors salutis
Et virtutis
Michi nunc contraria
Est affectus
Et defectus
Semper in angaria
Hac in hora
Sine mora
Corde pulsum tangite
Quod per sortem
Sternit fortem
Mecum omnes plangite

Fortune plango vulnera
Stillantibus ocellis
Quod sua michi munera
Subtrahit rebellis
Verum est, quod legitur
Fronte capillata
Sed plerumque sequitur
Occasio calvata
In Fortune solio
Sederam elatus
Prosperitatis vario
Flore coronatus
Quicquid enim florui
Felix et beatus
Nunc a summo corrui
Gloria privatus
Fortune rota volvitur
Descendo minoratus
Alter in altum tollitur
Nimis exaltatus
Rex sedet in vertice
Caveat ruinam!




Nam sub axe legimus
Hecubam reginam

Overall Meaning

"O Fortuna" is the opening and closing movements of Carl Orff's most famous work, Carmina Burana, a scenic cantata composed in 1935-1936 that sets to music 24 poems selected from the medieval collection Carmina Burana. It is one of the most recognizable choral pieces ever composed and has been featured in numerous films, television shows, and commercials.


The lyrics of "O Fortuna" express the power and unpredictability of fate or fortune, which governs human life and affects everyone regardless of their station in life. The first stanza describes the volatility of life and how it can alternately build up or tear down individuals, the second stanza describes the wheel of fortune as it turns and grinds individuals down or raises them up, while the third stanza expresses the personal struggle of the singer against their own adverse fate and calls upon all to weep with them.


What makes "O Fortuna" so powerful and emotionally resonant is not just the sweep and grandeur of its melody and orchestrations but the way Orff imbues the lyrics with a visceral urgency and intensity through dynamic and rhythmic contrasts, repetitive motifs, and changes in dynamics and tempo. The piece begins with a soft and ominous choral chanting that gradually builds to a powerful crescendo, then ebbs and flows until it reaches its climax in the final stanza, which returns to the opening motif.


Line by Line Meaning

O Fortuna
Oh, fortune, goddess of fate and destiny


Velut luna
Like the moon


Statu variabilis
You have a fickle nature


Semper crescis
You constantly grow stronger


Aut decrescis
Then weaken accordingly


Vita detestabilis
Despicable, twisted life


Nunc obdurat
Now cruel and hardens the heart


Et tunc curat
But soon soothes and comforts


Ludo mentis aciem
Ever a game of sharpening the mind


Egestatem
Poverty


Potestatem
Power


Dissolvit ut glaciem
Melts away like ice


Sors immanis
Monstrous fate


Et inanis
And empty


Rota tu volubilis
You are a revolving wheel


Status malus
Bad state of affairs


Vana salus
Illusory health


Semper dissolubilis
Always precarious and easily dissolved


Obumbrata
It overshadows


Et velata
And veils


Michi quoque niteris
You strive also against me


Nunc per ludum
Now through the game


Dorsum nudum
You uncover my naked back


Fero tui sceleris
I bear the weight of your crimes


Sors salutis
Fate of salvation


Et virtutis
And of virtue


Michi nunc contraria
But now against me


Est affectus
I am afflicted


Et defectus
And lacking


Semper in angaria
Always in torment


Hac in hora
In this hour


Sine mora
Without delay


Corde pulsum tangite
Strikes the heart with force


Quod per sortem
And through fate


Sternit fortem
Strikes down the strong


Mecum omnes plangite
Mourn with me all


Fortune plango vulnera
I bewail the wounds that fortune deals


Stillantibus ocellis
With weeping eyes


Quod sua michi munera
Because fortune has taken away her gifts from me


Subtrahit rebellis
Rebellious fate withdraws its support


Verum est, quod legitur
It is true what is written


Fronte capillata
There is beauty on the outside


Sed plerumque sequitur
But often follows


Occasio calvata
Opportunity with a bald head


In Fortune solio
On fortune's throne


Sederam elatus
I sat exalted


Prosperitatis vario
With varied prosperity


Flore coronatus
Crowned with flowers


Quicquid enim florui
Whatever I have flowered


Felix et beatus
I was happy and blessed


Nunc a summo corrui
Now fallen from the top


Gloria privatus
Deprived of glory


Fortune rota volvitur
The wheel of fortune turns


Descendo minoratus
I go down diminished


Alter in altum tollitur
Another is raised up high


Nimis exaltatus
Being raised too high


Rex sedet in vertice
The king sits on the summit


Caveat ruinam!
Caution against ruin!


Nam sub axe legimus
For under the axle we read


Hecubam reginam
Queen Hecuba




Contributed by Avery J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@young_dad

O Fortuna
Velut luna
Statu variabilis
Semper crescis
Aut decrescis
Vita detestabilis
Nunc obdurat
Et tunc curat
Ludo mentis aciem,
Egestatem,
Potestatem
Dissolvit ut glaciem.
Sors immanis
Et inanis,
Rota tu volubilis
Status malus
Vana salus
Semper dissolubilis
Obumbrata
Et velata
Michi quoque niteris
Nunc per ludum
Dorsum nudum
Fero tui sceleris.
Sors salutis
Et virtutis
Michi nunc contraria,
Est affectus
Et defectus
Semper in angaria.
Hac in hora
Sine mora
Corde pulsum tangite
Quod per sortem
Sternit fortem
Mecum omnes plangite



@bouchrabenz6072

Lyrics + Eng translation

O Fortuna : o Fortune
Velut Luna : like the moon
Statu Variabilis : you are changeable
(
Semper crescis : you come close
Aut decrescis : and back off
Veta detestabilis : making our life repugnant
Nunc obdurat : too harsh now,
et tunc curat : too cathartic tomorrow
Ludo mentis aciem :with just a whim from you
Egestatem : Misery
Potestamem : Glory
Dissolvit ut glaciem : they melt like ice
Sors immanis : Brutal destiny
et inanis : and Absurdity
Rota tu volubilis. : spinning like a wheel
Status malus : Such a bad situation
Vana salus : Happiness is a vain
Semper dissolubilis : and going through nothingness
Obumbrata. : You're pale
et velata : and invisible
michi quoque niteris : but your plague make me suffer
nunc per ludum : In your game
dorsum nudum : leave my bare back
fero tui sceleris : by facing your crime
(2
Sors salutis : in health
et virtutis : and virtue
michi nunc contraria : I'm now opposing you
( est affectus
| et defectus |
Semper in angaria) : Impose your slavery to me
Hac in hora : Now is the time
Sine mora : without delay
Corde pulsum tangite : To remove chains
Quod per sortem : as long as
sternit fortem : that destiny long
mecum omnes plangite : everyone will continue crying



@jokerdhjokerdh243

O Fortuna (O Fortune) 
 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)
ludo mentis aciem, (as fancy takes it)
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)
mihi 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 strong)
mecum omnes plangite! (everyone weep with me!)



All comments from YouTube:

@The_Tactical

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@mairitaaleja

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Recommended

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How did you know!

@advaith365

Yeah, the Simpsons is where I heard this.😝🤪

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@bardhakelmendi6479

a moment of silence for those who are still searching

@kayaeki

I know what you meannn

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I never even had the need to search, i knew it all along. Deal with it

@bardhakelmendi6479

Diamant Belallari brravo qe ni medalje 🏅

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