![]() "I felt a profound urge to 'Carry On' and continue the search. It is well worth noting that Livgren became an evangelical Christian in 1980, a few years after writing this hit in 1976.Īlthough he says it wasn't meant to be overly religious, he did feel a sense of prophecy and spirituality in his life at that time. "Carry On Wayward Son" features an epic musical arrangement that combines classic rock elements with progressive rock in a very magical way that also feels very religious. This is where I believe divine intervention happened Kerry sat down and wrote this masterpiece as a way to motivate himself through his journey as a musician and a writer. On top of pressures from the label, lead singer and guitarist Steve Walsh was going through an intense bout of writer's block, which put all the pressure on Livgren.įunny enough, the songs for " Leftoverture" were set in stone, practiced, and ready to go before Kerry Livgren brought it to the table at the last minute. Related Post: How To Get Noticed By A Record Label Kansas was progressive and imaginative with their releases, but radio play and sales were going toward more classic forms of rock that the band just wasn't tapping into, even as they were coming up on their fourth studio album release.Īfter experiencing a commercial setback with their previous album "Masque," Kansas found themselves facing challenges with their producer and overall career.ĭespite producer Don Kirshner's personal appreciation for the band, he presented them with a crucial ultimatum: create a successful record or risk being released from their label.įaced with this daunting situation, the band retreated to their hometown of Topeka, Kansas, seeking solace and inspiration as they embarked on the creative process for their upcoming album. ![]() While the band Kansas was definitely one to be admired amongst fans and even their peers in the music industry, their commercial sales were not doing as well as their label had hoped. The song's lyrics are introspective and contemplative, dealing with themes of self-discovery, reflection, and can be self-explanatory once you understand where Livgren was coming from, along with the journey that the band was on. It was written by Kerry Livgren with a great bit of artistic inspiration and originally released on their 1976 album titled "Leftoverture." It proved to be prophetic."Carry On Wayward Son" by Kansas is one of my favorite rock songs of all time, and the story behind the songwriting process makes me love it even more. ![]() The positive note at the end, surely heaven waits for you, seemed strange and premature, but I felt impelled to include it in the lyrics. “I saw myself as the ‘Wayward Son,’ alienated from the ultimate reality, and yet striving to know it or him. “I felt a profound urge to ‘Carry On’ and continue the search,” said Livgren in a 1984 interview. ChristianityĪlthough Livgren became an evangelical Christian in 1980, he said the songs he wrote up until that point, including “Carry On Wayward Son” and the band’s 1977 hit “Dust in the Wind”-weren’t religious but centered more about “searching” for something. “Carry On Wayward Son” is also linked to their song “The Pinnacle,” the closing track on the band’s previous album Masque, as a continuation of the lyrics I stood where no man goes / Above the din I rose / Life is amusing though we are losing / Drowned in tears of awe. Though my mind could think, I still was a mad man Though my eyes could see, I still was a blind man ![]() Just to get a glimpse beyond this illusion Once I rose above the noise and confusion
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