sors immanis, et inanis, rota to volubilis. status malus, vana salus, semper dissolubilis. obumbrata, et elata, michi quoque niteris. nunc per ludum, dorsum nudum, fero tui sceleris. dread destiny and empty fate, an everturning wheel. who make adversity and fickle health, alike turn to nothing. in the dark and secretly, you work against me. how through your trickery my naked back is turned to you unarmed.


Lyrics submitted by uncommontime

O Fortuna song meanings
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    General Comment

    heres the full latin and english lyrics 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,

    obumbratum

    et velatam

    mihi quoque niteris,

    nunc per ludum

    dorsum nudum

    fero tui sceleris.

    Sors salutis

    et virtutis

    mihi nunc contraria,

    est affectus

    et defectus

    semper in angaria;

    hac in hora

    sine mora

    cordis pulsum tangite,

    quod per sortem

    sternit fortem

    mecum omnes plangite.


    English Lyrics

    O Fortune,

    changeable

    as the moon.

    you are always either improving

    or deteriorating.

    Detestable life

    at one moment thwarts

    and at another

    mockingly indulges the mind's desire

    melting away

    both poverty and power

    like ice.

    Vain,

    monstrous Fate,

    you turning wheel

    you can, when you will,

    destroy bad circumstances

    and delusive success alike.

    Veiled

    and shadowy,

    you attack me too;

    now at your whim

    I bare my back

    under your assault.

    You, Fate, who dispose

    health and strength

    are now against me;

    my desires

    and my weakness

    are in constant slavery.

    At this hour

    without delay

    let all pluck the string;

    let all lament with me

    how the brave man

    is crushed by Fate.

    blihndon September 29, 2002   Link

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