"" was 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.
Long a classic rock staple, the song comprises 5:25 of prototypical rock/progressive fusion, the trademark of Kansas. The song is noted for its Orchestral style, even though it mostly lacks any actual orchestral instruments.
Kerry Livgren wrote the song as a sequel to the final song on the previous album ("The Pinnacle" off '' Masque '').
A song from the band Journey called "I'm Gonna Leave You" from their second album, '' Look Into The Future '', shares an almost identical guitar riff with "Carry On Wayward Son". During 1975-76, the two bands toured tirelessly, often playing the same shows. Although the Journey track predates the Kansas song, Livgren insists that the similarity is a coincidence.
- "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 .
- 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 USC Trojan Marching Band (The Spirit Of Troy ), The Marching Virginians, The Sacramento State Marching Band and University Of California, Davis Marching Band-uh! perform this song during football games. The University of Florida and University of Kansas bands also play this song during basketball games.
- Riffs from this song are incorporated into "The Big Medley" by Dream Theater .
- 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.
- Screamo band The Kodan Armada briefly cover the chorus of this song in their song "One" on their ''Collections Volume 1'' CD
- French Canadian artist Sylvain Cossette , covered the song on his upcoming album this fall 2007.
- "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 ''''.
- The song also appears in the film '' Happy Gilmore ''.
- It is played for a brief section in '' Joe Dirt '' as David Spade cruises in his 1969 Daytona.
- "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) and "All Hell Breaks Loose, Part 2" (Season 2, Episode 22) when they summarized 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.
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