"O Fortuna" (from Carl Orff's "Carmina Burana") is one of the most recognizable pieces of classical music the world over. It is so popular, in fact, it is commonly used in motion pictures and even at sporting events. Yet few understand the lyrics, much less know the English translation of the piece. This is unfortunate, as the brooding words - conveying mankind's eternal struggle with the fickle whims of life and the ultimate futility of this struggle - are as timeless and universal as the music itself. Therefore, I have taken upon myself to provide a video presentation of the piece with both the archaic pseudo-latin dialect and literal English translation. I hope you enjoy, and come to have a nefound appreciation for this awesome sonic experience.

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 Translation:

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!