The ploughman’s gone

Dylan Thomas

1914 to 1953

Poem Image

We are working on musical arrangements of The ploughman’s gone by Dylan Thomas and they will be published on a date yet to be decided.

The ploughman’s gone, the hansom driver,
Left in the records of living a not-to-be-broken picture,
In sun and rain working for good and gain,
Left only the voice in the old village choir
To remember, cast stricture on mechanics and man.
The windmills of the world still stand
With wooden arms revolving in the wind
Against the rusty sword and the old horse
Bony and spavined, rich with fleas.
But the horses are gone and the reins are green
As the hands that held them in my father’s time.
The wireless snarls on the hearth.
No more toils over the fields
The rawboned horse to a man’s voice
Telling it this, patting its black nose:
You shall go as the others have gone,
Lay your head on a hard bed of stone,
And have the raven for companion.
The ploughman’s gone, the hansom driver,
With rain-beaten hands holding the whip,
Masters over unmastered nature,
Streets’ stock, of the moon lit, ill lit, field and town,
Lie cold, with their horses, for raven and kite.

Man toils now on an iron saddle, riding
In sun and rain over the dry shires,
Hearing the engines, and the wheat dying.
Sometimes at his ear the engine’s voice
Revolves over and over again
The same tune as in my father’s time:
You shall go as the others have gone,
Lay your head on a hard bed of stone,
And have the raven for companion.
It is the engine and not the raven.
Man who once drove is driven in sun and rain.
It is the engine for companion.
It is the engine under the unaltered sun.

Dylan Thomas's The ploughman’s gone

We are busy working to bring Dylan Thomas's "The ploughman’s gone" to life through our unique musical arrangements and will have a full analysis of the poem here for you soon.

At V2Melody, each arrangement is crafted with care through a thoughtful partnership of human artistry and technological innovation. This process involves:

  • Deep analysis of the poem's rhythm, structure, and emotional essence
  • Careful selection of musical styles that enhance the poem's unique voice
  • Balancing traditional poetic expression with contemporary sound landscapes
  • Multiple revisions to ensure the arrangement honors the poet's original vision

This creative journey takes time—each composition represents hours of dedicated work to create something that deepens our connection to Dylan Thomas's words in meaningful ways.

While you wait for our complete interpretation, we invite you to explore other musical arrangements in our gallery or learn more about Dylan Thomas's life and contributions to literature.

Check back soon to experience how "The ploughman’s gone" transforms when verse meets melody—a unique journey that makes poetry accessible, engaging, and profoundly moving in new ways.