Carl Orff Carmina Buranah o Fortuna Lyrics

O Fortuna (Chorus) O Fortune

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 man,
mecum omnes plangite!----everyone weep with me!