Carry On Wayward Son – English Lyrics

• By: Kansas
• Album: Leftoverture

Lyrics & Translation

Learning English with “Carry On Wayward Son” offers a chance to explore themes of perseverance and searching for meaning. The song's vocabulary, including words like “wayward,” “illusion,” and “splendor,” provides a good opportunity for language learners to expand their lexicon while engaging with a classic rock anthem.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
peace /piːs/ A1	noun - freedom from disturbance; tranquility.
head /hed/ A1	noun - the part of the body above the neck where the brain is
cry /kraɪ/ A1	verb - to shed tears, typically as an expression of distress, pain, or sorrow. noun - an instance of crying.
dreaming /ˈdriːmɪŋ/ A2	verb - experiencing images, emotions, and sensations during sleep.
voices /ˈvɔɪsɪz/ A2	noun - the sound produced in a person's larynx and uttered through the mouth, as speech or song.
life /laɪf/ A1	noun - the condition that distinguishes organisms from inorganic matter, including capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity, and continual change preceding death.
rest /rest/ A2	noun - repose, sleep, or tranquility. verb - cease work or movement in order to relax, refresh oneself, or recover strength.
done /dʌn/ A2	adjective - completed; finished.
wayward /ˈweɪwərd/ B2	adjective - difficult to control or predict because of unusual or perverse behavior.
weary /ˈwɪəri/ B2	adjective - feeling or showing tiredness, especially as a result of excessive exertion or lack of sleep.
noise /nɔɪz/ A2	noun - a sound, especially one that is loud or unpleasant
confusion /kənˈfjuːʒən/ B2	noun - the state of being bewildered or unclear in one's mind about something.
illusion /ɪˈluːʒən/ B2	noun - a false idea or belief.
blind /blaɪnd/ B1	adjective - unable to see
mad /mæd/ B1	adjective - mentally ill; insane

Key Grammar Structures

• Carry on my wayward, son

  ➔ Imperative mood

  ➔ The verb "Carry on" is in the imperative mood, functioning as a command or exhortation. It's a direct instruction to the "wayward son" to continue his journey.

• There'll be peace when you are done

  ➔ Future tense with conditional clause

  ➔ "There'll be peace" uses the future tense ("will be"). "When you are done" is a conditional clause indicating when the peace will occur.

• Lay your weary head to rest

  ➔ Imperative mood with possessive pronoun

  ➔ "Lay" is another imperative verb. "Your" is a possessive pronoun modifying "weary head."

• Once I rose above the noise and confusion

  ➔ Past simple tense, prepositional phrase

  ➔ "Rose" is the past simple tense of "rise". "Above the noise and confusion" is a prepositional phrase describing where the subject rose.

• Though my eyes could see I still was a blind man

  ➔ Past modal verb with 'though' clause

  ➔ "Could see" uses the modal verb "could" in the past, expressing ability. "Though my eyes could see" is a clause introduced by 'though', indicating a contrast.

• Masquerading as a man with a reason

  ➔ Present participle as adjective, prepositional phrase

  ➔ "Masquerading" is a present participle acting as an adjective to describe the subject (understood as 'I'). "With a reason" is a prepositional phrase modifying "man."

• And if I claim to be a wise man

  ➔ Conditional clause with 'if', infinitive phrase

  ➔ "If I claim to be a wise man" is a conditional clause introduced by "if". "To be a wise man" is an infinitive phrase acting as the object of the verb "claim."

• Surely heaven waits for you

  ➔ Adverb of certainty, present simple tense

  ➔ "Surely" is an adverb of certainty. "Waits" is the present simple tense, used here to express a general truth or belief.