Uploaded March 2016 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
"Carry On Wayward Son", by American rock band Kansas, peaked at #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1977 and became their first Top 40 hit. The band was struggling to get some serious radio play and needed to come up with a hit to close out their Leftoverture album. Lead guitar player and lyricist, Kerry Livgren, stepped in and composed "Carry On Wayward Son", which in reality, almost was not included on the album. Livgren stated in an interview that the lyrics were partially about himself, and the struggles and pressures he was facing at the time when the band's career was on the line. The album itself met with mixed reviews by critics, but was commercially successful, going platinum five times. "Carry On...." is often regarded as one of the greatest rock songs of all time. It also earned Kerry Livgren the reputation as one of the most respected musicians and lyricists in rock and roll. The a cappella vocals at the beginning of this song gave it a very distinctive intro that worked well on rock radio stations where DJs rarely talked over the music.The band has produced eight gold albums, three sextuple-platinum albums, one platinum live album, and a million-selling single, "Dust in the Wind". Kansas appeared on the Billboard charts for over 200 weeks throughout the 1970's and 1980's and played to sold-out concerts throughout North America, Europe and Japan.
"Carry On Wayward Son", by American rock band Kansas, peaked at #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1977 and became their first Top 40 hit. The band was struggling to get some serious radio play and needed to come up with a hit to close out their Leftoverture album. Lead guitar player and lyricist, Kerry Livgren, stepped in and composed "Carry On Wayward Son", which in reality, almost was not included on the album. Livgren stated in an interview that the lyrics were partially about himself, and the struggles and pressures he was facing at the time when the band's career was on the line. The album itself met with mixed reviews by critics, but was commercially successful, going platinum five times. "Carry On...." is often regarded as one of the greatest rock songs of all time. It also earned Kerry Livgren the reputation as one of the most respected musicians and lyricists in rock and roll. The a cappella vocals at the beginning of this song gave it a very distinctive intro that worked well on rock radio stations where DJs rarely talked over the music.The band has produced eight gold albums, three sextuple-platinum albums, one platinum live album, and a million-selling single, "Dust in the Wind". Kansas appeared on the Billboard charts for over 200 weeks throughout the 1970's and 1980's and played to sold-out concerts throughout North America, Europe and Japan.
