Alternatively, see The London Philharmonic Orchestra.
Carmina Burana: O Fortuna
London Philharmonic Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
velut luna,
statu variabilis,
semper crescis
aut decrescis;
vita detestabilis
nunc obdurat
et tunc curat
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!
"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.
@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
@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.😝🤪
@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 😊