Do not go gentle into that good night

"Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night," a villanelle composed in 1951, is considered to be among the finest works by Welsh poet Dylan Thomas (1914–1953). Originally published in the journal Botteghe Oscure in 1952, it also appeared as part of the collection In Country Sleep. Written for his dying father, it is one of Thomas's most-quoted works.

The poem has no title other than its first line, "Do not go gentle into that good night," a line which appears as a refrain throughout the poem. The poem's other equally famous refrain is "Rage, rage against the dying of the light."

Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night by Dylan Thomas

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Influence on art

Since the poem was published, many artists have used the work as a source of inspiration for their own works: Igor Stravinsky wrote a musical piece in 1954, In Memoriam Dylan Thomas, that included the poem to honour the deceased poet. It was scored for mezzo-soprano and piano in 2001 by Wayne L. Davies as part of a Dylan Thomas song-cycle

Composer Elliot del Borgo has also written an orchestral piece bassed upon the poem.

In 2004, the musical artist Donovan sang the full poem to his own original music as a track on his album Beat Cafe.

Philippine punk rock band The Jerks used Thomas' poem as the backdrop for their song "Rages."

Welsh musician John Cale has set the poem to music, the song was published on his 1992 live album Fragments of a Rainy Season.

Portuguese author António Lobo Antunes has a book with the title of the poem translated into Portuguese, although the English edition does not translate it that way.

Canadian author Margaret Laurence cited a few lines from the poem in the beginning of her novel.

Finland-Swedish author Kjell Westö used parts of the poem in his novel "Gå inte ensam ut i natten" (Do not wander the night alone).

In popular culture

• In "The Shakespeare Code", a Series 3, 2007 episode of Doctor Who, The Doctor (David Tennant) repeatedly quotes Shakespeare with the Bard's (Dean Lennox Kelly) response being "I'll use that". The Doctor then quotes Thomas's Rage, rage against the dying of the light, which he says Shakespeare cannot use as it is "someone else's."
• In the 1986 film Back to School, Rodney Dangerfield recites an abbreviated version of the poem from memory as part of his final English exam.
• In Independence Day, Bill Pullman as the President, references it in his speech to the troops preparing to attack the alien invaders.
• Brave Saint Saturn's first album in 2000 "So Far from Home" samples a few lines from the poem in the song titled, "Two-Twenty-Nine."
• The 2009 Green Day album 21st Century Breakdown contains references to the poem on tracks "Song of the Century" and "American Eulogy".
• In the 2010 January 1st page of webcomic "Sinfest", the year 2009 personified as an old man facing death, is asked if he has any final words, to which he partly responds by using the last two lines of the poem.
• It was used in the film Dangerous Minds where it was contrasted against the works of Bob Dylan.
• It was used by the rock band Fuel in their 2001 hit, "Innocent", when noting how easy we sometimes give into our dark side: "gently I go into that good night..."
• Metal band Anaal Nathrakh included a track with the title "Rage, Rage Against the Dying of the Light" on their album Domine Non Es Dignus.
• Song "Sleep is Wrong" from Avantgarde metal band named Sleepytime Gorilla Museum include a citation "Do not go gentle into that good night.Rage, rage against the dying of the light."
• In the episode of Family Guy titled Fore Father, Stewie has an allergic reaction to a vaccination shot. While about to pass out he says "Do Not Go Gentle into That Goodnight, quote Bob Dylan... No, No, Dylan Thomas".
• In the role-playing video game Final Fantasy XIII, the character "Sazh" references the Dylan Thomas poem with his quip to a party member in the game, saying "Something tells me you're not going to go gently into that good night."

External links

• The Life and Work of Dylan Thomas
• National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales
• A short analysis by the BBC
• Read the poem and listen to it read by Dylan Thomas
• Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night