Carmina Burana
E.T.O. (Electronica Techno Orchestra) 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!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to E.T.O.'s song "Carmina Burana" are actually taken from a piece of classical music also titled "Carmina Burana" by composer Carl Orff. The lyrics are written in Latin and are a part of a larger collection of medieval poems known as the Carmina Burana. The song begins with the famous line "O Fortuna," which translates to "O Fortune" in English.


The lyrics reflect the theme of the cyclic nature of life and the unpredictability of fortune. The opening lines compare fortune to the changing phases of the moon, stating that it is fickle and constantly fluctuating. The verses describe life as detestable, sometimes hardening and other times healing the mind's sharpness. It speaks of fortune's power to dissolve poverty and authority like melting ice. The lyrics continue to portray fortune as immense and empty, a wheel that is constantly turning. It states that fortune is always precarious, offering false salvation.


The later verses express the personal experience of the singer, mentioning being overshadowed and covered by fortune's influence. The lyrics depict the singer as being exposed and vulnerable, bearing the burden of someone else's wickedness. It describes the contradictory aspects of fortune, bringing both health and virtue as well as affliction and hardship. The final lines call for everyone to mourn and lament the fate that has befallen the strong ones, urging them to strike the heart's chords and sing along.


Overall, the lyrics of "Carmina Burana" encapsulate the ever-changing and unpredictable nature of fortune, depicting the cyclic and contrasting aspects of life's ups and downs.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Carl Orff

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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