Do not go gentle into that good night

src: beamingnotes.com

"Do not go gentle into that good night" is a poem in the form of a villanelle, and the most famous work of Welsh poet Dylan Thomas (1914-1953). Though first published in the journal Botteghe Oscure in 1951, it was written in 1947 when he was in Florence with his family. It was published, along with other stories previously written, as part of his In Country Sleep, And Other Poems in 1952.

It has been suggested that it was written for Thomas' dying father, although he did not die until just before Christmas 1952. It has no title other than its first line, "Do not go gentle into that good night", a line that appears as a refrain throughout. Its other refrain is "Rage, rage against the dying of the light".

The poem currently remains under copyright, although the text is available on-line.

Video Do not go gentle into that good night

Notable use in popular culture

It was used as the text for the 1954 In Memoriam Dylan Thomas (Dirge-Canons and Song) for tenor and chamber ensemble, by Igor Stravinsky. The piece was written soon after Thomas' death and first performed in 1954.
It was the inspiration for three paintings by Swansea-born painter and print-maker Ceri Richards, in 1954, 1956, and 1965, respectively.
The title of George R. R. Martin's 1977 novel Dying of the Light references a line from the poem.
It is the subject of a 1979 tone poem for wind ensemble by Elliot del Borgo.
In the 1986 film Back to School Thornton Melon played by Rodney Dangerfield recites the poem during an exam board.
John Cale set the poem to orchestral music for his album Words for the Dying, released in 1989.
In the 1996 film Independence Day, the President makes a rousing speech as he prepares to lead the attack against the alien invaders, adapting Thomas' line, saying, "We will not go quietly into the night."
The black metal band Anaal Nathrakh has a song called "Rage, rage against the dying of the light" from the 2004 album Domine Non Es Dignus.
It is used as a main inspiration for the protagonist of the 2010 Ally Condie book Matched, the first of a trilogy by that name.
The refrain is cited by English synth-pop duo Hurts in the song "Somebody to Die For" on their 2013 album Exile.
In Christopher Nolan's 2014 movie Interstellar it is used repeatedly by Michael Caine's character Professor John Brand, as well as by several other supporting characters. Leading actors Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway are sent into hyper sleep with the final words "Do not go gentle into that good night."
In the song "Even My Dad Does Sometimes", on his 2014 album X, Ed Sheeran paraphrases one of the poem's lines.
In 2015 episode of Doctor Who, "The Magician's Apprentice", Clara Oswald, played by Jenna Coleman, quotes the first line of this poem when she discovers where the Doctor is and what he is up to.
The phrase "rage against the dying of the light" is used in the Metric song "Lie Lie Lie" from the 2015 album Pagans in Vegas.
It is cited by G-Eazy in "Intro" on his 2015 album When It's Dark Out.
In 2017 Irish broadcaster RTÉ Sport used the poem in a promotion for the World Cup qualifier second leg between Republic Of Ireland and Denmark, with Brendan Gleeson reading it as footage of famous Irish sporting moments at major tournaments were shown.
The champion Lux in the popular video game League of Legends says the phrase "rage against the dying of the light" on one of her skins, Elementalist Lux.