Karl Orff O Fortuna Lyrics

1. Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi (Fortune, Empress of the World)
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!

2. Fortune plango vulnera (I bemoan the wounds of Fortune)

Fortune plango vulnera- I bemoan the wounds of Fortune
stillantibus ocellis- with weeping eyes,
quod sua michi munera- for the gifts she made me
subtrahit rebellis.- she perversely takes away.
Verum est, quod legitur,- It is written in truth,
fronte capillata,- that she has a fine head of hair,
sed plerumque sequitur- but, when it comes to seizing an opportunity
Occasio calvata.- she is bald.

In Fortune solio- On Fortune's throne
sederam elatus,- I used to sit raised up,
prosperitatis vario- crowned with
flore coronatus;- the many-coloured flowers of prosperity;-
quicquid enim florui- though I may have flourished
felix et beatus,- happy and blessed,
nunc a summo corrui- now I fall from the peak
gloria privatus.- deprived of glory.

Fortune rota volvitur:- The wheel of Fortune turns;
descendo minoratus;- I go down, demeaned;
alter in altum tollitur;- another is raised up;
nimis exaltatus- far too high up
rex sedet in vertice- sits the king at the summit -
caveat ruinam!- let him fear ruin!
nam sub axe legimus- for under the axis is written
Hecubam reginam.- Queen Hecuba.