Carry On Wayward Son – English Lyrics

• By: Kansas
• Album: Leftoverture

Lyrics & Translation

Embark on a lyrical journey with Kansas's "Carry On Wayward Son" – a powerful progressive rock anthem rich with introspective themes and universal messages of perseverance. This song's profound lyrics, combined with its intricate musicality and iconic vocals, offer a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in authentic English expression. Pay attention to the evocative imagery and the motivational tone, and you'll not only grasp the song's deep meaning but also expand your English vocabulary and understanding of poetic language in rock music. Its enduring popularity ensures you'll encounter it in many cultural contexts, making it a truly special song for language learners.

[English]

♪ Carry on my wayward, son ♪

♪ There'll be peace when you are done ♪

♪ Lay your weary head to rest ♪

♪ Don't you cry no more ♪

(upbeat music)

♪ Ah ♪

♪ Once I rose above the noise and confusion ♪

♪ Just to get a glimpse beyond this illusion ♪

♪ I was soaring ever higher, but I flew too high ♪

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

♪ Though my mind could think I still was a mad man ♪

♪ I hear the voices when I'm dreaming ♪

♪ I can hear them say ♪

♪ Carry on my wayward, son ♪

♪ There'll be peace when you are done ♪

♪ Lay your weary head to rest ♪

♪ Don't you cry no more ♪

♪ Masquerading as a man with a reason ♪

♪ My charade is the event of the season ♪

♪ And if I claim to be a wise man ♪

♪ Well, it surely means that I don't know ♪

♪ On a stormy sea of moving emotion ♪

♪ Tossed about, I'm like a ship on the ocean ♪

♪ I set a course for winds of fortune ♪

♪ But I hear the voices say ♪

♪ Carry on my wayward, son ♪

♪ There'll be peace when you are done ♪

♪ Lay your weary head to rest ♪

♪ Don't you cry no more no ♪

♪ Carry on ♪

♪ You will always remember ♪

♪ Carry on ♪

♪ Nothing equals the splendor ♪

♪ Now your life's no longer empty ♪

♪ Surely heaven waits for you ♪

♪ Carry on my wayward, son ♪

♪ There'll be peace when you are done ♪

♪ Lay your weary head to rest ♪

♪ Don't you cry ♪

♪ Don't you cry no more ♪

♪ No more ♪

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.