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by Dylan Thomas (1914 - 1953)

In memoriam Dylan Thomas
 (Sung text for setting by I. Stravinsky)
 Matches base text
Language: English 
Our translations:  GER
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 day,
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.
First published in Botteghe Oscure (November 1951), revised 1952

Composition:

    Set to music by Igor Stravinsky (1882 - 1971), "In memoriam Dylan Thomas", published 1954 [ tenor and string quartet or piano ]

Text Authorship:

  • by Dylan Thomas (1914 - 1953), no title

See other settings of this text.

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • GER German (Deutsch) [singable] (Walter A. Aue) , "Geh' Du nicht sanft in jene Gute Nacht", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this page: Jeroen Scholten

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 19
Word count: 168

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