Carry On Wayward Son

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“Carry On Wayward Son”
Single by Kansas
from the album Leftoverture
A-side "Carry On Wayward Son"
B-side "Questions of My Childhood"
Released October 1976
Recorded December 1975
Genre Progressive rock
Hard rock
Christian rock
Length 5:25
Label Kirshner Records
Writer(s) Kerry Livgren
Producer Jeff Glixman, Kansas
Kansas singles chronology
"It Takes a Woman's Love (To Make a Man)"
(1976)		 "Carry On Wayward Son"
(1976)		 "What's on My Mind"
(1977)

"Carry On Wayward Son" (often misnamed, due to the lyrics, as "Carry On My 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.

The 7" single has been certified Gold by the RIAA.

[edit] Covers

  • "Carry On Wayward Son" was covered by Canadian Christian rock band Critical Mass, garnering a nomination for Best Rock Song of the year in 2005 at the Canadian Gospel Music Association.
  • It was also covered by Yngwie Malmsteen on his 1996 album Inspiration.
  • Another Christian rock band, Rachel Rachel, also covered this classic rock song, on their 1991 album Way To My Heart.
  • More recently, it was covered by The Oak Ridge Boys.
  • Carry On Wayward Son was turned into a four-part TTBB quartet by Chicago group AC Rock on their 1996 debut album "Ur What Ur".
  • Was adapted to "Carry On Joe Conason" on The Al Franken Show as a theme song for writer Joe Conason, a regular on the show.
  • The University of Texas Longhorn Band, The Marching Virginians, The Sacramento State Marching Band, The Screaming Eagle Band, University of California, Davis Marching Band, and University of California, Los Angeles Marching Band perform this song during football games. The University of Florida, University of Kansas, University of Colorado, University of Toledo, University of New Mexico, Northwestern University, Marist College, Bradley University and Georgia Tech bands also play this song during basketball games. The University of Southern California's Spirit of Troy plays this song at both football and basketball games.
  • The Cedarville High School Marching Indians have performed this song at various football games.
  • Riffs from this song are incorporated into "The Big Medley" by Dream Theater from their 1995 EP A Change of Seasons.
  • Gregg Gillis, aka Girl Talk, mash up DJ used "Carry On Wayward Son" for one of many of his sample-based remixes, "Warm It Up" on his 2006 album Night Ripper.
  • The Roamin' Bones of the Florida State University Marching Chiefs play this song often at performances prior to football games.
  • Christian metal band, The Showdown, covered the song on their Temptation Come My Way album, and performed this song during the 2007 Ozzfest tour.
  • The song was edited and featured in the PlayStation 2 and Xbox 360 music video game Guitar Hero II.
  • American Idol contestant Amanda Overmyer sang the song on the February 27th, 2008 show.
  • A remix of Carry On Wayward Son was released in 2007 by n pa productions

[edit] Films

  • "Carry On Wayward Son" was used in the film Heroes with Henry Winkler and Sally Field. It would normally appear in the last four minutes of the film where Winkler is running down the street, then to crouch down in shame and agony, after being told his friend from Vietnam was shot in the war. When MCA purchased the film, they removed that footage and the audio track, and replaced it with different footage of Winkler in fetal position being embraced by Field, and an unrecognizable song.
  • "Carry On Wayward Son" is played in the ending credits of the film Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy.
  • The song also appears in the film Happy Gilmore.
  • The song also appears in the film The Karate Kid.
  • It is played for a brief section in Joe Dirt as David Spade cruises in his 1969 Daytona.

[edit] Television

  • "Carry On Wayward Son" has been used to promote the The CW Television Network television show Supernatural, and was used in the opening moments of "Salvation" (Season 1, Episode 21), "All Hell Breaks Loose, Part 2" (Season 2, Episode 22), and "No Rest For the Wicked" (Season 3, Episode 16), when they recap the story so far. Fans commonly link the show to the song now, due to its use and lyrics.
  • Stephen Colbert sings "Carry On Wayward Son" during the end credits of the episode "Yes You Can't" of the television series Strangers with Candy.
  • On the "Cocktails" episode of the US version of The Office, the song is being played in the bar when Pam tells Roy about the kiss she and Jim had, and when Roy and his brother trash the bar.
  • The U.S. television network PBS sometimes plays the song during advertisements for upcoming shows.
  • The song is featured on the South Park episode "Guitar Queer-o". This episode also featured a cover of this song by Trey Parker, one the show's creators and main voice actors, as he voices the character Randy Marsh.
  • In the King of The Hill episode My Own Private Rodeo, Dale flashes back to the recption of his and Nancy's wedding, as Carry On Wayward Son is played in the background.
  • Amanda Overmyer performed Carry On Wayward Son on American Idol Season 7.
  • The song was featured prominently in the Highlander television series, during flashbacks of Duncan McCloed's murdered lover Tessa Noel.
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