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Requiem QCN Lyrics

[These lyrics are in Latin; they are the opening to Italy's Constitution of Fiume]

Quis contra nos?
Statutum et ordina,
Tum est,
Juro ego,
Si Spiritus pro nobis,
Quis contra nos?

(somewhat liberal) English translation:

Who is against us?
There is law and order,
At this time,
I attest,
If the Holy Spirit is for us,
Who is against us?
Song Info
Submitted by
kanis On Feb 05, 2005
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Cover art for Requiem QCN lyrics by VNV Nation

It took me a while to figure out what the definite lyrics for this was. Even in its present form, the Latin is pretty confusing, and I took 3 years of it in high school. If anyone is more well-versed in the language, please offer your own take on the lyrics. There are no translations of the Latin anywhere floating around on the net, so it's not much to work with.

Cover art for Requiem QCN lyrics by VNV Nation

i translated it slightly differently:

who can triumph over us? there is now law and order. i swear to this. if the spirits (gods) are for us. then who can triumph over us?

Cover art for Requiem QCN lyrics by VNV Nation

this song is about the food network and their search for a new food network star. it relates to me because i have to consume food to live, and often find it hard deciding which food to eat. i know in my heart the new food network star will make the choice easier, although i still get heartburn when i take big dumps in my mom's bathroom. at the end of the day, vnv nation settles the score and makes me choose steak omelletes everytime. vnv nations 4ever.

Cover art for Requiem QCN lyrics by VNV Nation

no offense, but are you on something?

Cover art for Requiem QCN lyrics by VNV Nation

I can't find the source right now, but the meaning of "si spiritus pro nobis, quis contra nos?" is that if the spirit [of the people] is with us, then who can oppose us? The context is that of a revolution or a constitution or something, I forget, but in a revolution, clearly nothing can stop the combined will of the people, and so they should have nothing to fear. If all the people want something or to live in a certain way, who or what is there to oppose it?

Cover art for Requiem QCN lyrics by VNV Nation

VNV NATION "SONG MEANINGS" INSIDE 15 page interview with Ronan Harris.

http://dancemusic.about.com/od/artistshomepages/a/VnVNationInt.htm

Cover art for Requiem QCN lyrics by VNV Nation

Re- 'si spiritus pro nobis, quis contra nos'-- it's a reference to the Biblical passage Romans 8:31-39. "...If God is for us, who can be against us?"

Cover art for Requiem QCN lyrics by VNV Nation

All the translations follow the same lines. But the pivotal part of this song is not the first three lines, but the last three:

Juro ego, Si Spiritus pro nobis, Quis contra nos?

What immediately strikes me is that this is in Ecclesiastical Latin, which leans me toward a definite Christian bend. Even without the religious forethought, this boils out to what was said before. If a power is for what "we" are for, who can stand (successfully) against us?

Cover art for Requiem QCN lyrics by VNV Nation

Well, Kanis got it. It's as simple as can be. Yes, these are the opening lines of the constitution of Fiume. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_Regency_of_Carnaro for more information. This was a very peculiar moment in recent european history. Very particular forces were acting there, both cultural and political: dada, futurism, proto-fascism, anarchism, feminism, eastern philosophies, a certain interpretation of bolchevism as well. If things had gone a different way back then, in Fiume, probably there wouldn't have been fascism, in Italy, as we've known it. Thus probably the whole XXth century would have happened in a very different way. From Ronan's point of view, Fiume was probably some sort of utopia: a state where art and philosophy mingled with politics, action, courage, nationalist and internationalist pride. Where intellectuals and artists were soldiers and soldiers were dreamers dreaming an entirely different world.

Cover art for Requiem QCN lyrics by VNV Nation

To me, this song speaks of a culture long gone, the Romans. It just reminds me of the Roman mindset, "we are the best at everything, who could really pose a threat?" The arrogance and pride behind it are reflected in this song. That might just be my personal love for the Roman Empire though.

 
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