During the first five years of activity, the American group Kansas released three studio albums, with which they achieved impressive results. However, it was too early to consider them real stars of the rock scene.
The situation changed radically with the release of the fourth disc. Her real decoration was the composition Carry On Wayward Son, which to this day is considered the hallmark of the famous band.
History and Meaning of Carry On Wayward Son
It was a difficult period for the group. The bosses of the record company Kirshner Records said directly that the next album would be the last chance for Kansas. Unfortunately, Steve Walsh, the writer of many of the early Kansas songs, faced a creative block. Luckily, guitarist Kerry Livgren didn’t suffer from a lack of ideas. He also composed this ballad while sitting at the piano in his parents’ house.
Later, Livgren recalled that in the words of the song Carry On Wayward Son, he partially meant himself. Enjoying the first fruits of fame, worries about the problems that have begun, fear of losing fans and hope for further success – all this is reflected in the song.
Biblical motifs in the composition also have an explanation. Kerry became a Christian in the early eighties, but already at that time he was tormented by thoughts about faith and the meaning of being. Author’s word:
I felt a great desire to “continue” and not give up the search. I saw myself as a “prodigal son”, detached from the original reality, but still striving to know it. The positive note at the end (“Of course, heaven is waiting for you”) seemed strange and hasty, but I felt the need to put it into the text. It turned out that she became prophetic.
Release and achievements
The decision to include the song in Leftoverture arose just a couple of days before the recording of the record, when all the tracks had already been selected. But when Livgren played the rest of the band Carry On Wayward Son, no one was left in doubt that she needed to find a place on the new album.
In December 1976, it was released as a single, which soon climbed to number eleven on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Later, the composition was included in various collections of the best works of Kansas.
VH1 ranked it as the 96th best hard rock song.
Clip Carry On Wayward Son – Kansas
Let’s watch the online video clip for the song Carry on Wayward Son by the rock band Kansas.
Interesting Facts
- The composition plays in the final episodes of almost all seasons of the super popular television series Supernatural, and also sounds in other series.
- She can also be heard in several feature films, commercials and computer games.
Carry On Wayward Son Lyrics
chorus:
Carry on my wayward son
For there’ll be peace when you are done
Lay your weary head to the rest
Don’t you cry no more
Once I rose above the noise and confusion
Just to get a glimpse beyond the illusion
I was soaring ever higher, but I flew too high
Though my eyes could see I was still a blind man
Though my mind could think I was still a mad man
I hear the voices when I’m dreamin’, I can hear them say…
Chorus
Masquerading as a man with a reason
My charade is the event of the season
And if I claim to be a wise man,
It surely means that I don’t know
On a stormy sea of moving emotion
Tossed about I’m like a ship on the ocean
I set a course for winds of fortune, but I hear the voices say…
Chorus
Carry on, you will always remember
Carry on, nothing equals the splendor
Now your life’s no longer empty
Surely heaven waits for you
Chorus
Carry On Wayward Son Lyrics
Chorus:
Go on my prodigal son
Peace will come when you’re done
Bow your weary head
And don’t cry anymore
I once rose above the hustle and bustle
Just to look beyond the mirage
I flew even higher, but I got too high
Although my eyes saw, I was still blind
Although my mind thought, I was still crazy
I hear voices in my sleep, I hear them say…
Chorus
I pretend to be a reasonable person
My charade is the highlight of the season
And if I call myself a sage
This of course means that I don’t know anything.
In a raging sea of changing emotions
I’m tossed like a ship on the ocean
I follow the winds of fortune
But I hear voices say…
Chorus
Carry on, you will always remember
Keep going, nothing compares to greatness
From now on your life is not empty
Of course, heaven is waiting for you
Chorus
Do you know the correct chords for the song? Can you play Carry On Wayward Son on the guitar? Post your videos in the comments.
Download Carry On Wayward Son
On the site you can not download the song Carry On Wayward Son in mp3 for free, but you can listen to tracks by Kansas and watch online clips in good quality.
