Educandi Nos Non Sumus (“Another Brick in the Wall” in Latin)

[Editor’s note: Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2 — Education)” is the simplest, catchiest, and best anti-school anthem ever written — how better to honor it than with a version in the schooliest of all tongues, Classical Latin? Songsman extraordinaire Luke Henderson produced this literal but elegant version years ago, which preserves the simplicity and force of the original. It’s brilliant everywhere, but the use of “ma-gister” for “Hey, teacher” is particularly so. “Conclave,” which means a room in general, is here used for “classroom.” Any group of people can sing this song: the only part that requires some practice is the entrance of “ma-gister” after “pueros.” In karaoke circumstances, you need someone to entertain the crowd (via air guitar or something else) during the guitar solo.]

ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL (PART 2 — EDUCATION) (Pink Floyd)

(Waters) (tr. Henderson) [1979]

Educandi nos non sumus

Ne coacti credamus

Sarcasmus ater in conclavi.

Magister linque pueros.

MA-GISTER LINQUE PUEROS!

Tu omnino later fies hoc in muro.

Tu omnino later fies hoc in muro.

[totum repetitur]

[in fine, dicens:] num licet dulce sumere nisi carne consumpta?