O Fortuna
Rhydian Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

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)
Michi 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 string)
Mecum omnes plangite! (everyone weep with me!)





Read more: http://artists.letssingit.com/carl-orff-lyrics-o-fortuna-qv7jvh2#ixzz1asR9fs7l
LetsSingIt - Your favorite Music Community

Overall Meaning

The song "O Fortuna" by Rhydian is a haunting and powerful interpretation of Carl Orff's masterpiece "Carmina Burana." "O Fortuna" is a Latin refrain that was written in the 13th century as part of a collection of poems known as "Carmina Burana." The poem is a reflection on fate, and the fickleness of fortunes. Rhydian's interpretation of the piece uses powerful instrumentation and dynamic vocals to capture the raw emotion of the lyrics.


The song begins with the refrain "O Fortuna, velut luna," which roughly translates to "O Fortune, like the moon." The lyrics go on to talk about how fortunes can change, from waxing to waning. The piece talks about the hatefulness of life, and the way that fate can oppress and then soothe as fancy takes it. The lyrics touch on themes of power and poverty, and how fortune can melt them like ice.


The second verse of the song talks about the monstrous and empty nature of fate. It talks about how fate is always fading to nothing and how it plagues those who are its victims. The verse talks about being driven on and weighted down, enslaved by fate. The final lines of the song call on the listener to weep with the singer, as fate strikes down the strong.


Line by Line Meaning

O Fortuna (O Fortune)
Addressed to the Roman goddess of fortune, personified as an ever-changing force in human life.


Velut luna (like the moon)
You are changeable like the moon, which has phases of brightness and darkness.


Statu variabilis (you are changeable)
You are unpredictable and capricious, always liable to shift and alter your course.


Semper crescis (ever waxing)
Always growing in strength and power, exerting greater influence on human affairs over time.


Aut decrescis; (and waning;)
But also capable of diminishing in force and retreating from human influence.


Vita detestabilis (hateful life)
Human life is full of afflictions and sufferings that are directly affected by the whims of fate.


Nunc obdurat (first oppresses)
At times, fortune seems cold and unyielding, bearing down on people and crushing their spirits.


Et tunc curat (and then soothes)
At other times, fortune can seem benevolent, offering comfort and relief from life's burdens.


Ludo mentis aciem, (as fancy takes it)
Fortune's whimsical nature is like a child's game of chance, sharpening the mind's perceptions to aim for success in the game.


Egestatem, (poverty)
Fortune can reduce people to dire poverty and wretchedness.


Potestatem (and power)
Fortune can also bestow great power and influence upon those who wield it wisely.


Dissolvit ut glaciem. (it melts them like ice.)
But just as quickly as fortune grants favors, it can take them away, melting them like ice in the sun.


Sors immanis (Fate - monstrous)
Fortune is determined by an overwhelming force of fate that seems almost inhuman in its power.


Et inanis, (and empty)
Yet, in spite of its monstrous force, fortune is ultimately devoid of real meaning or purpose.


Rota tu volubilis, (you whirling wheel)
Fortune is like a spinning wheel that turns and turns, never stopping, never predictable.


Status malus, (you are malevolent)
Fortune often brings about bad consequences, leading to tragedy and misfortune for those caught in its grip.


Vana salus (well-being is vain)
Efforts to obtain well-being are ultimately futile, since fortune is always changing and can strip it away at any moment.


Semper dissolubilis, (and always fades to nothing)
All things, including the illusions of prosperity and happiness, are doomed to disappear, fade, and dissolve.


Obumbrata (shadowed)
Fortune's true nature is obscured and unclear, hidden from mortal eyes and understanding.


Et velata (and veiled)
Like a mysterious and elusive woman, fortune is both alluring and enigmatic.


Michi quoque niteris; (you plague me too;)
Fortune is not an abstract concept, but a concrete reality that directly affects and afflicts the artist.


Nunc per ludum (now through the game)
The artist is caught up in the game of fortune's unpredictable twists and turns.


Dorsum nudum (I bring my bare back)
In this game, the singer is vulnerable and exposed, struggling against fortune's cruelties with no armor or protection.


Fero tui sceleris. (to your villainy.)
The artist accuses fortune of being a villain, a force that inflicts harm and wickedness upon mortals like him.


Sors salutis (Fate is against me)
Fortune is not impartial, but is actively opposed to the singer's best interests, causing him harm and misery.


Et virtutis (in health)
Fortune opposes not only health, but also virtue itself, which is undermined and destroyed by its capricious actions.


Michi nunc contraria, (and virtue)
At the present moment, fortune is hostile and hostile toward the singer, actively working against his interests.


Est affectus (driven on)
The artist is consumed with a passion that drives him forward, despite the obstacles that fortune throws in his way.


Et defectus (and weighted down)
Yet this passion is not enough to overcome the burden of fortune's overwhelming presence, which weighs him down and crushes his spirit.


Semper in angaria. (always enslaved.)
Ultimately, the singer is enslaved by fortune, unable to break free from its grip and live a life of true freedom and autonomy.


Hac in hora (So at this hour)
During this moment of despair and hardship, the singer implores others to join him in mourning and sorrow.


Sine mora (without delay)
There is no time to waste in shedding tears and lamenting the cruel hand of fortune.


Corde pulsum tangite; (pluck the vibrating strings;)
The music evokes a visceral, emotional response to the force of fortune's cruelty and the artist's anguish.


Quod per sortem (since Fate)
The workings of fortune and fate are beyond human comprehension or control, and so the artist resigns himself to their power.


Sternit fortem, (strikes down the string)
Even the strongest and bravest are not immune from fortune's fickle and destructive power.


Mecum omnes plangite! (everyone weep with me!)
The artist's pain and sorrow are shared by all people, who are united in their vulnerability to fate's whimsical nature and power.




Contributed by Adrian O. 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:

@boderah2959

Mind blowing. My favorite version, best video. can't say enough good things about it.
for anyone interested, here are the Italian & English translations:

Italian:
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!

English:
O Fortune,
like the moon
you are changeable,
ever waxing
and waning;
hateful life
first oppresses
and then soothes
as fancy takes it;
poverty
and power
it melts them like ice.

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;
now through the game
I bring my bare back
to your villainy.

Fate is against me
in health
and virtue,
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!



All comments from YouTube:

@alisonmccannoffline

Great Song ever..... Rhydian is absolutely amazing.😃👍🌟

@Daconte_

This is the most powerfull performance of this epic song!!! Love it!!!

@geowyn

What a voice!!

@natureangel2

Wonderful!! God this man is so talented!!

@lg70742

i have always loved this song and its powerful feeling

@dianaben

Lovely album, amazing talent. He 's incredibly versatile even includes pop music on this album :)

@howdymt

Great interpretation, arrangement, singing, the whole thing!

@osmondofan

WOW!! Fantastic video interpretation and Rhydia sounds and looks amazing

@grimTales1

Stunning vocals and video from Rhydian, love it. His voice is amazing. Interesting about the pronounciation of Caesar, I never knew that!

@gmaureen

The O Fortuna video is amazing. Love it!!! Actually, this whole album is amazing. What a talent he has. He woud be great in a movie, he can act and sing. It's guaranteed he'll be around for a long time.

More Comments

More Versions