Carry On Wayward Son
Kansas · Complete Albums Collection [2011]
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
Ahhhh....
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
{Refrain}
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
{Refrain}
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
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)
Carry On Wayward Son
Kansas' 1976 single 'Carry On Wayward Son' stands as a defining anthem of progressive rock, blending complex time signatures with soaring melodic hooks. Released on their self-titled album, the track exemplifies the band's ability to fuse intricate studio production with accessible songwriting. The composition features a distinctive opening guitar riff that has become an enduring staple of rock radio, driving a narrative about navigating life's confusing paths. As one of the group's most recognizable works, it showcases their signature blend of hard rock energy and melodic sensibility, cementing their legacy in the American rock canon alongside hits like 'Dust in the Wind' and 'Point of Know Return'.
