‘Carry On Wayward Son’ is a song by American rock band Kansas, released from the band's fourth studio album Leftoverture (1976). Written by guitarist Kerry Livgren, the song became the band's first Top 40 single, reaching No. 11 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in early 1977.
According to Kerry Livgren, "On the very first day of rehearsals, Steve...said that he had nothing – not a single song. I don't relish that kind of pressure, but with hindsight it really brought out the best in me." In a 2004 interview he said: "It's an autobiographical song. Parallel to my musical career I've always been on a spiritual sojourn, looking for truth and meaning. It was a song of self-encouragement. I was telling myself to keep on looking and I would find what I sought." According to Livgren "It was the last night we were in Topeka. I came into the studio on the last day and said, ‘I think you better hear this one’. The guys looked at each other and said, ‘We gotta do this’."
Drummer, Phil Ehart recalled, "It was the last, last song to be submitted for...'Leftoverture'...I can't even remember if we dropped something else to get it on there...When we recorded it, we didn't really think it would be a hit, as it was about six minutes long...We were on the road [in December 1976 when] our manager...said: 'Well, you're not gonna believe this, but we actually have a hit song.' We said, 'What?' He said, 'Yeah. "Carry On Wayward Son" is shooting up the charts.' And it barely made it on the album!"
Subsequent to the October 21, 1976, release of the Leftoverture album, the track ‘Carry On Wayward Son’ became an FM radio favorite, causing the November 23 single release of a 3:26 edit of the 5:26 album track (itself trimmed from 7:30 minutes). Many Top 40 stations aired the full album cut rather than the single edit.
Debuting at No. 86 on the Billboard Hot 100 dated December 25, 1976, ‘Carry On Wayward Son’ reached the Top 40 — at No. 36 — seven weeks later, the single in its first months of release typically garnering attention in what could be termed secondary markets being "added" by major market radio stations such as WABC-AM (NYC) and KHJ-AM (LA) only in March 1977. Ultimately ‘Carry On Wayward Son’ reached a chart peak of No. 11 on the Hot 100 dated April 2, 1977: Internationally the single reached No. 6 in Canada, No. 51 in the UK, and No. 58 in Australia.
The song has since remained a classic rock radio staple and a signature song for the band and is ranked 96th on VH1's 100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs.
Label – Kirshner
Songwriter – Kerry Livgren
Producers – Jeff Glixman, Kansas
SONG LYRICS
[Chorus]Carry on, my wayward son
There'll be peace when you are done
Lay your weary head to rest
Don't you cry no more
[Verse 1]
Once I rose above the noise and confusion
Just to get a glimpse beyond this illusion
I was soaring ever higher
But I flew too high
Though my eyes could see, I still was a blind man
Though my mind could think, I still was a mad man
I hear the voices when I'm dreaming
I can hear them say
[Chorus]
Carry on, my wayward son
There'll be peace when you are done
Lay your weary head to rest
Don't you cry no more
[Verse 2]
Masquerading as a man with a reason
My charade is the event of the season
And if I claim to be a wise man, well
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, my wayward son
There'll be peace when you are done
Lay your weary head to rest
Don't you cry no more, no
[Guitar Solo]
[Bridge]
Carry on, you will always remember
Carry on, nothing equals the splendor
Now your life's no longer empty
But surely heaven waits for you
[Chorus]
Carry on, my wayward son
There'll be peace when you are done
Lay your weary head to rest
Don't you cry, don't you cry no more
[Guitar Solo Outro]
No more