Thomas was born in Swansea, Wales, in 1914. An undistinguished student, he left school at 16, becoming a journalist for a short time. Although many of his works appeared in print while he was still a teenager, it was the publication of "Light breaks where no sun shines", in 1934, that caught the attention of the literary world. While living in London, Thomas met Caitlin Macnamara, whom he married in 1937. Their relationship was defined by alcoholism and was mutually destructive. In the early part of his marriage, Thomas and his family lived hand-to-mouth, settling in the Welsh fishing village of Laugharne.
Although Thomas was appreciated as a popular poet in his lifetime, he found earning a living as a writer difficult, which resulted in him augmenting his income with reading tours and broadcasts. His radio recordings for the BBC during the latter half of the 1940s brought him a level of celebrity. In the 1950s, Thomas travelled to America, where his readings brought him a level of fame, though his erratic behaviour and drinking worsened. His time in America cemented Thomas' legend, where he recorded to vinyl works such as A Child's Christmas in Wales. During his fourth trip to New York in 1953, Thomas became gravely ill and fell into a coma from which he did not recover. Thomas died on 9 November 1953 and his body was returned to Wales where he was buried at the village churchyard in Laugharne.
Although writing exclusively in the English language, Thomas has been acknowledged as one of the most important Welsh poets of the 20th century. Noted for his original, rhythmic and ingenious use of words and imagery, Thomas' position as one of the great modern poets has been much discussed, though this has not tarnished his popularity amongst the general public, who find his work accessible.
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2) A singer-songwriter based in Sydney.
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Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night
Dylan Thomas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Old age should burn and rage 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
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
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
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
Dylan Thomas's poem, "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night," is a deeply emotional plea to his father, urging him to fight against death and not succumb to it easily. Throughout the poem, Thomas uses various characters to exemplify the different ways that people face death, including old age, the end of a life well-lived, and the realization that one has not lived to their fullest potential. Thomas implores his father to follow in the footsteps of the "wild men," who caught the sun in flight, and the "grave men," who see with blinding sight, and to rage against the dying of the light. The repeated use of the phrase "rage, rage" drives this point home and creates a powerful sense of desperation and urgency.
The poem is not only a plea to his father but also a commentary on the human condition. It speaks to the universal fear of death and the desire to cling desperately to life, even in the face of inevitable defeat. The inclusion of the various characters serves to illustrate the different ways in which people face death, highlighting the idea that there is no one "right" way to confront mortality. The poem also touches on the notion of legacy, and the fear of dying without having made a significant impact on the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Do not go gentle into that good night
Don't surrender to death easily and without a fight, even if it seems inevitable.
Old age should burn and rage at close of day
As one gets older, they should have a fierce passion to live life to the fullest, even at the end of their days.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light
Fight fiercely against death and the end of life with all of one's strength and might.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right
Even wise men who accept the inevitability of death still deeply feel the desire to hold onto life.
Because their words had forked no lightning
Wise men who haven't made a significant impact in the world through their words still have a burning desire to live, despite their impending death.
Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Even good men who have lived a virtuous life regret their missed opportunities and long to have lived even brighter.
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay
The deeds of good men could have been celebrated and remembered as significant, but their missed opportunities cause them to regret.
Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight
Men who have lived life to the fullest and taken risks in their youth realize at the end of their life that their greatest accomplishments are behind them.
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way
As wild men realize that their greatest accomplishments are behind them, they feel regret for not fully appreciating and enjoying their youth.
Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Serious men who reflect on their life and near the end of it realize that they could have lived life more fully and passionately.
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors
Even when death is imminent, men who have lived with a purpose can still blaze with energy and intensity.
And you, my father, there on the sad height
The artist is addressing their father, who is facing the end of their life.
Curse, bless me now with your fierce tears, I pray
The singer begs their father to express his emotions so that the singer can understand and learn from his experiences.
Do not go gentle into that good night
The final line of the poem reinforces the message to all to fight fiercely against death and to embrace life to the fullest.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light
The final line of the poem is a direct repetition of the third line, emphasizing the importance of fighting fiercely against death.
Writer(s): Dylan Marlais Thomas, Robert R. de Cormier Jr, Donovan Leitch, John Davies Cale, Dylan Thomas Copyright: Donovan (Music) Limited, John Cale Music Inc., WB Music Corp.
Contributed by Joseph F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
John Fisher
I just passed my 90th birthday and I'm sure as hell not going gentle in that good night. When I'm feeling sorry for myself, I recite the first part and I, indeed, rage against the dying of the light. Those words put fire in my belly to face another day with fresh resolve.
kevin morrison
What a wonderful thing to read at 33.
Good for you mate, I hope you're still here when i'm 50.
A
John Fisher Best of luck!
John Fisher
Thanks everyone. It's been a great trip and I'm so glad we all met up along the way!
Shan
Mr. John Fisher, to the front of the classroom you go!
Janis Joplin
Thank you for sharing this. I am 36 and sometimes feel like my best days are behind me.
UltimateKyuubiFox
I love that he almost sings it. Incredible performer.
jlmurrel
Exactly. A trait the Welsh were once well known for.
concars1234
It must be sung to be truly loved
Zon Forest Moua
It really does; in fact, this is on my music playlist, just cause I enjoy his enunciated and theatre voice.