O Fortuna
Karl Orff feat. The Emperor Lyrics

The lyrics to "O Fortuna" by Karl Orff featuring The Emperor's song is a powerful and emotional portrayal of the fickle nature of fate. The opening lines in Latin, "O Fortuna velut luna statu variabilis, semper crescis aut decrescis; vita detestabilis nunc obdurat et tunc curat" can be translated to mean "Oh Fortune, like the moon you are changeable, ever waxing and waning; hateful life first oppresses and then soothes as fancy takes it." These lines set the tone for the rest of the song, which goes through different emotions such as anger, despair, and hopelessness.

The next part of the song talks about the wheel of fortune, which is a symbol of the unpredictable and cyclical nature of life. The lines "Sors immanis et inanis, rota tu volubilis, status malus, vana salus semper dissolubilis, obumbrata et velata michi quoque niteris" can be translated to mean "Fate - monstrous and empty, you whirling wheel, you are malevolent, well-being is vain and always fades to nothing, shadowed and veiled you plague me too." This part of the song portrays a sense of hopelessness and despair, as if there is no escaping the harsh realities of life.

However, towards the end of the song, there is a sense of defiance and hope. The lines "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!" can be translated to mean "Fate, in health and in virtue, is now against me driven on and weighted down, always enslaved. So at this hour without delay pluck the vibrating strings; since Fate strikes down the strong man, everyone weep with me!" These lines urge listeners to stand up against unfavorable fate and come together in solidarity against adversity.