Cheyenne Anthem
Kansas · Complete Albums Collection [2011]
From the mountains to the sun, Life has only just begun.
We wed this land and pledge our souls to meet its end,
Life has only just begun
Here my people roam the earth, in the kingdom of our birth,
Where the dust of all our horses hides the sun
We are mighty on the earth, on the earth
You have come to move me, take me from my ancient home,
Land of my fathers I can't leave you now
We will share it with you, no man owns this earth we're on
Now the wheels are rolling hear the howling winds of war
It's my destiny to fight and die
Is there no solution, can we find no other way, Lord let me stay
Under the endless sky and the earth below
Here I was born to live and I will never go, oh no
But we cannot endure like the earth and the mountains
Life is not ours to keep, for a new sun is rising
Soon these days shall pass away, for our freedom we must pay
All our words and deeds are carried on the wind,
In the ground our bodies lay, here we'll stay
We wed this land and pledge our souls to meet its end,
Life has only just begun
Here my people roam the earth, in the kingdom of our birth,
Where the dust of all our horses hides the sun
We are mighty on the earth, on the earth
You have come to move me, take me from my ancient home,
Land of my fathers I can't leave you now
We will share it with you, no man owns this earth we're on
Now the wheels are rolling hear the howling winds of war
It's my destiny to fight and die
Is there no solution, can we find no other way, Lord let me stay
Under the endless sky and the earth below
Here I was born to live and I will never go, oh no
But we cannot endure like the earth and the mountains
Life is not ours to keep, for a new sun is rising
Soon these days shall pass away, for our freedom we must pay
All our words and deeds are carried on the wind,
In the ground our bodies lay, here we'll stay
Cheyenne Anthem
Kansas' "Cheyenne Anthem" stands as a defining track from their 1976 album "Leftoverture," showcasing the band's signature blend of progressive rock and classic rock anthems. Written by Kerry Livgren, the song features a distinctive synthesizer-driven melody that became a staple of the band's live performances and radio airplay. It exemplifies the era's shift toward incorporating electronic textures into traditional rock structures, creating a sound that remains recognizable decades later. The track was a significant commercial success, contributing to the album's status as a landmark in the group's discography and cementing Kansas's reputation as a key voice in 1970s rock music.