Carmina Burana: O Fortuna
London Philharmonic Orchestra Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

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

"O Fortuna" is a Latin poem that was written by an unknown author in the 13th century; it was set to music by German composer Carl Orff in 1936. This poem is a part of a larger work called Carmina Burana, which includes 24 other poems in Latin, German, and French. "O Fortuna" opens and closes the piece and is the most popular piece of music from the work. The lyrics describe the fickleness of fortune and how it can change from good to bad and back again. The moon is used as a metaphor for this, as it waxes and wanes.


The first stanza of "O Fortuna" describes how life can be hateful and merciless or kind and generous; it all depends on fortune. The second stanza describes how fortune is like a wheel that spins endlessly, sometimes raising people up for no reason and sometimes bringing them down. The third stanza describes how the singer is caught in the middle of fortune's whims, sometimes being the victim and sometimes the perpetrator. The final stanza is a call for everyone to mourn together for the destruction that fortune can bring.


Line by Line Meaning

O Fortuna
Oh Fate!


velut luna
like the moon


statu variabilis
constantly changing


semper crescis aut decrescis;
always increasing or decreasing


vita detestabilis
life is detestable


nunc obdurat et tunc curat
now it oppresses and then soothes


ludo mentis aciem
as sharp as the edge of a razor


egestatem, potestatem
poverty and power


dissolvit ut glaciem.
it dissolves everything like ice.


Sors immanis et inanis,
Fate, monstrous and empty,


rota tu volubilis,
you are a turning wheel,


status malus, vana salus
you are changeable and fickle,


semper dissolubilis,
always tumbling veering,


obumbrata et velata
hated and covered with shadows,


michi quoque niteris;
you mimic me as well.


nunc per ludum dorsum nudum fero tui sceleris.
I bring my bare back to your villainy.


Sors salutis et virtutis,
Fate is against me in health and virtue,


michi nunc contraria,
driven on and weighted down,


est affectus et defectus
always enslaved.


semper in angaria.
So at this hour without delay pluck the vibrating strings;


Hac in hora sine mora corde pulsum tangite;
since Fate strikes down the strong man,


quod per sortem sternit fortem, mecum omnes plangite!
everyone weep with me!




Contributed by Landon M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Most interesting comment 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



All comments from YouTube:

@The_Tactical

Let's be honest , YouTube didnt recommended this you searched this in your own

@mairitaaleja

Nop... It was a suggestion for me ... 😏

@user-fq4hj8yv2z

Recommended

@romainvicta396

Όχι it was recommended!

@valevvv2985

How did you know!

@advaith365

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

579 More Replies...

@sebastienseb3943

AFTER 100 years of living, I finally found this song! now I live longer!

@patrickhurenkamp3547

Just o fortuna

@oudayalzoubi5645

If this song is not going to be played at my funeral, I’m not dying

@greatexpectations6577

You must lead an epic life to deserve this masterpiece 😊

More Comments

More Versions