Carry On Wayward Son

"Carry On Wayward Son" is a single recorded by Kansas and written by Kerry Livgren for their 1976 album Leftoverture. In 1977, the song peaked at No. 11 on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming their first top 20 entry in the US.[3] The song was certified Gold by the RIAA on December 18, 1990.[4]

"Carry On Wayward Son"
Single by Kansas
from the album Leftoverture
B-side"Questions of My Childhood"
ReleasedNovember 19, 1976
RecordedDecember 1975
Genre
Length
  • 5:26 (album version)
  • 3:26 (single edit)
LabelKirshner
Songwriter(s)Kerry Livgren
Producer(s)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"
(1976)

Overview

The 7-inch single was 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 No. 51 there.[5] All initial releases of the single had a B-side of "Questions of My Childhood". The song was later re-released on all Kansas compilation albums (except for Works in Progress) and all Kansas live albums. The song is now certified quadruple platinum.

This song is 96th on VH1's 100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs.[6]

Personnel

In other media

"Carry On Wayward Son" is considered the unofficial theme song of the TV series Supernatural.[7] It is played during the recap before every season finale of Supernatural, with the exception of the first season, where it was played during the recap of the penultimate episode.[8] At the end of the show's 200th episode in season 10, the cast of a play based on Supernatural sing the song. The song was also featured prominently in the series finale, titled "Carry On", referencing the song. Featured in the episode was the original song and a cover version by Neoni.[9]

Charts
Chart (1976–77) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[10] 58
Canadian RPM Top Singles 5
UK Singles (OCC)[11] 51
US Billboard Hot 100[12] 11

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[13] Gold 400,000
United States (RIAA)[4] 4× Platinum 4,000,000

sales+streaming figures based on certification alone

References
  1. "Top Of The Progs: Kansas - Carry On Wayward Son". TeamRock.com. Retrieved February 22, 2017.
  2. Winistorfer, Andrew (January 5, 2009). "VH1's 100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs list only slightly less annoying than their hip-hop list". VH1. Prefix Magazine. Retrieved February 1, 2014.
  3. "Kansas – Chart history". Billboard Hot 100 for Kansas. Retrieved November 26, 2016.
  4. "American single certifications – Kansas – Carry On Wayward Son". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 9, 2020. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
  5. "Official Charts Company". Retrieved January 24, 2011.
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on February 12, 2009. Retrieved February 7, 2009.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. Bucksbaum, Sydney (July 29, 2017). "How 'Supernatural' Pulled Off That Comic-Con Surprise With Kansas". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
  8. Krupa, Jessy (June 1, 2016). "Supernatural: Season 11, Episode 23 - "Alpha and Omega"". Pop Matters.
  9. Supernatural, Episode 15.20: "Carry On". Original airdate: November 20, 2020.
  10. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 164. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  11. "Kansas: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  12. "Kansas Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  13. "British single certifications – Kansas – Carry On Wayward Son". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 9, 2020.



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