A connection with modern day music

(Apologies to the people who are on the Self and Society blog as well! I posted something similar over there too a few weeks back.)

I just thought I'd share something a little fun with you guys. So since we discussed Fortune a lot this week, I'd like to show you guys a song that talks about her (though they call her Fate in this song, but I think the descriptions they give of her show Fate and Fortune to be the same woman in this context.

This is from the Trans-Siberian Orchestra's "Beethoven's Last Night" and the story is basically that Mephistopheles appears on Beethoven's last night to tempt him to sell his soul. Fate is a character in the story.

Here are the lyrics just in case you'd like you read them as well:

Faith and belief and retreat
When you're standing all alone with your dreams in the dark
Never knowing what is real in the shadows you meet
Never knowing what is true in the answers you seek
Never knowing if 

Fate she hears me
Fate stand near me
Fate state clearly
Whether there will be another card 

Retrieve us
Time deceives us
Faith she hears me
But she doesn't listen very hard 

As she drifts through our lives tossing coins into the air
Watch them twist, watch them fall turning hope into despair
Watch them twist, watch them fall then she suddenly revives
Every dream that we've had and we find ourselves alive 

Believe me
Fate stands near me
Fate state clearly
Whether there will be another card 

Retrieve us
Time deceives us
The only moment in our lives
That ever really mattered fate is now

This is one of my favorite albums ever and I definitely recommend it!

Blurred Lines Between God and Fortune

"The Monk's Tale" tells of various mythological or historical figures who fell out of fortune. These characters serve to further the Monk's point and the theme of the tale, which is found in the first stanza:

For certain, whan that Fortune list to flee,

There may no man the cours of hire withholde.

Lat no man truste on blind prosperitee!

Be war by thise ensamples trewe and olde. (1995-1998)

Through the story of Nero this theme is made especially clear. Nero had total control in his position as a ruler and exerted his power in terrible, nightmarish ways until "Fortune liste no longer / The hye pride of Nero to cherice, / For though that he was strong, yet was she stronger" (2519-2521). Another clear illustration of this theme is in the story told about Balthasar who was a proud man and the son of Nabugodonosor. He is sinful in idolizing gold statues and forces others to commit idolatry as well. Eventually, "Fortune caste him doun, and ther he lay, / And sodeinly his regne gan divide" (2189-2190). The consequences for falling out of Fortune's favor are severe.
However, it is not only Fortune at play in these stories, but God also has great influence. In the story of Sampson it is God's favor he relies on, not Fortune's. He prays to God for a drink and God answers his prayer. Appeals to God and God's influence are mentioned in a number of tales, including "Nabugodonosor," "Balthasar," and "Sampson." It seems Fortune and God play parts in these stories, but do not necessarily work together.  What do you think?