Fern Hill Lyrics

How to Format Lyrics:

  • Type out all lyrics, even repeating song parts like the chorus
  • Lyrics should be broken down into individual lines
  • Use section headers above different song parts like [Verse], [Chorus], etc.
  • Use italics (<i>lyric</i>) and bold (<b>lyric</b>) to distinguish between different vocalists in the same song part
  • If you don’t understand a lyric, use [?]

To learn more, check out our transcription guide or visit our transcribers forum

About

Genius Annotation

“Fern Hill” is a 1945 poem by Welsh poet Dylan Thomas (1914-1953). In it, he reminisces about his joyful childhood and reflects upon the inevitability of aging.

It is set on Fern Hill, just outside Llangain in Carmarthenshire, the farm owned by Dylan Thomas' aunt, Annie. This is where Thomas spent much of his childhood.

“Fern Hill” is an arcadian poem, meaning that it describes the beauty of the countryside in an idyllic way. And you can’t really blame Thomas. Feast your eyes on that Welsh countryside below. You’re practically writing poems already, right?

At a first glance, this poem seems to lack structure. However, for all six of the nine-line stanzas, a very specific syllable count applies:
Line 1: 14 syllables
Line 2: 14 syllables
Line 3: 9 syllables
Line 4: 6 syllables
Line 5: 9 syllables
Line 6: 14 syllables
Line 7: 14 syllables
Line 8: 7 syllables
Line 9: 9 syllables

The enjambment is another poetic technique Thomas utilizes in every stanza; forcing readers to pause mid-phrase.

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

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