This is the 6896th most frequent German word.
ferne
"Ferne" (noun) in English means "distance" or "faraway."
The word "ferne" here is an adjective describing the characteristics of the lands being distant in nature.
Ich träume von fernen Ländern.
I dream of distant lands.
The word "ferne" is used as a noun here, indicating a location that is far away.
In der Ferne war ein leises Geräusch zu hören.
In the distance, a faint noise could be heard.
The word "ferne" is again used as an adjective, describing the childhood as distant in time.