Carry on Wayward Son

"Carry On Wayward Son" is a hit progressive rock single recorded by Kansas and written by Kerry Livgren for their 1976 album Leftoverture. In 1977, the song peaked at #11 on the Billboard pop singles chart, becoming their first Top 40 hit. Because of its lyrics, the song is often misnamed as "Carry On My Wayward Son". The 7" single has been certified Gold by the RIAA. This version was a much shorter version of the song, edited down to 3' 26", a version that was also the band's only single to chart in the UK, reaching the top 60 there. It was also the first 12" single released anywhere by the band when it was released in the UK in that format, thought it was still the edited version. All initial releases of the single had a B-side of "Questions of My Childhood," continuing the tradition of Kansas and many other bands with multiple songwriters of putting a song by band's other primary writer on the B-side of any single. This song is 96th on VH1's 100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs. This was written by Kansas guitarist Kerry Livgren. According to Livgren, the song was not written to express anything specifically religious, though it certainly expresses spiritual searching and other ideas. People have attributed all sorts of alternative meanings to it, but he suggests taking the song as it is. For more info on Carry On Wayward Son see http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=2452.

[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