The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #120740   Message #2628740
Posted By: Joe Offer
11-May-09 - 02:18 AM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: O Caritas! Cat Stevens - what language?
Subject: ADDPOP: O Caritas! Cat Stevens
Well, it sounds Spanish, but it's medieval Latin. I think Cat Stevens did a number of songs in Latin, back in the day - but I may be wrong, since this is the only one I could find. There's a YouTube video here (click).


I won't vouch for the accuracy of this lyrics transcription, but here are the lyrics, with corrections as I hear them (which makes it a pretty good transcription, if I do say so myself):

O CARITAS
(as recorded by Cat Stevens)

Hunc ornatum mundi
Nolo perdere.
Video flagrare
Omnia res.
Audio clamare
Homines.
Nunc extinguitur
Mundi_et astrorum lumen.
Nunc concipitur
Mali hominis crimen.
Tristitia_et lacrimis
Gravis est dolor.
De terraque maribus
Magnus est clamor.
O caritas, o caritas,
Nobis semper sit amor.
Nos perituri mortem salutamus,
Sola resurgit vita.

Ah, this world is burning fast,
Oh, the world will never last.
I don't want to lose it here in my time;
Give me time forever here in my time.

Translation of Latin:
(I dont want to lose the harmony of the universe
I see all things... burning, I hear people... shouting.
Now is the light of the world and the stars going out
Now does the blame for the disaster fall upon men.
Grief is heavy with sadness and tears
Great is the noise from the earth and the seas
O love, o love be with us always.
We who will perish salute death. life alone goes on.)



from the Cat Stevens Catch Bull at Four album, 1972

source: http://www.lyricsfreak.com/c/cat+stevens/o+caritas_20028093.html
I don't know the source of the song. It would be interesting to know if Cat Stevens wrote this, or if it came from an early source.
-Joe-