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O Fortuna (reprise, Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi) Lyrics by Carl Orff

Carmina Burana

1937

Latina
[Coro]
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
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
corde pulsum tangite;
quod per sortem
sternit fortem,
mecum omnes plangite!
 
English
[Chorus]
O Fortune,
like the moon
you are ever-changing,
ever waxing
and waning;
hateful life
first oppresses
and then soothes
as it fancies;
poverty
and power
it melts them like ice.
Fate -- monstrous
and empty,
Fate, you whirling wheel,
you are malevolent,
well-being is in 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!
Credits
Carl Orff

Carl Orff

About “O Fortuna (reprise, Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi)” by Carl Orff

Read the complete lyrics to "O Fortuna (reprise, Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi)" by Carl Orff from the album "Carmina Burana" in 1937. On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Non-Music, News .

"O Fortuna (reprise, Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi)" is performed by Carl Orff. from the album "Carmina Burana" in 1937 This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "O Fortuna (reprise, Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi)", explore more songs by Carl Orff using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"O Fortuna (reprise, Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi)" is credited to Carl Orff. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"O Fortuna (reprise, Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi)" appears on "Carmina Burana" in 1937.

Visit the Carl Orff artist page at /artist/carl-orff for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.