The Druids Part Two: Their Education

Song Meaning

The lyrics immediately establish the Druids as a highly privileged group, free from war, taxes, and military service. This elite status, however, is balanced by an incredibly demanding intellectual commitment. Their education is rigorous, spanning twenty years and requiring a vast number of verses to be learned by heart. The text suggests these "great rewards" actively encourage many to pursue this path. A central tension arises from the Druids' deliberate control over their knowledge. The narrator observes they "neither want the training to be made known to the common people." This suggests a conscious effort to maintain their unique position, perhaps by safeguarding their wisdom from wider dissemination and ensuring it remains within a select, highly trained group. Perhaps the most striking detail is the Druids' pedagogical philosophy: they don't want learners to "rely upon writing," preferring instead an intense focus on "memory." This choice isn't just about tradition; it's a strategic move to ensure deep internalization and perhaps to prevent their teachings from being easily copied or altered, reinforcing the exclusivity highlighted earlier. The narrator's interpretive stance, signaled by "They seems to me to have established," makes the analysis feel like a thoughtful deduction rather than a mere recounting. This approach, combined with the vast scope of Druidic knowledge—from the immortality of souls to "the stars and their movements" and "Immortal gods"—effectively portrays them as profound intellectual and spiritual authorities. The lyrics thus craft a compelling image of a powerful, enigmatic order whose influence is rooted in both privilege and profound, meticulously preserved wisdom.