Carry On, My Wayward Son

Words & Music:

Kerry Livgren (Kansas)

 

This is fully transcribed in the February 2009 issue of Guitar World.

 

[n.c.]

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!

 

Opening Riff:  [2x]

e-|--------------|--------------|----------------|--------------|

B-|--------------|--------------|----------------|--------------|

G-|--------------|--------------|----------------|--------------|

D-|--------------|--------------|-------5--------|--------------|

A-|-----------3--|-----------5--|-5sl7----7-5-3--|--5-----5-----|

E-|--5--3--5-----|--5--3--5-----|----------------|-----3------2-|

 

Am     G              F         G

Once I rose above the noise and confusion

Am      G             F           G

Just to get a glimpse beyond this illusion.

Dm    C            Bb        Bb C   Dm    C        G

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.

Dm         C               Bb        Dm    C         G

I hear the voices when I'm dreaming; I can hear them say:

 

CHORUS:

 Am    C      G             Am          C          G

"Carry on, my wayward son.  There'll be peace when you are done.

Am       C     G             Am

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, 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 sail for winds of fortune, but I hear the voices say:

 

CHORUS:

 

BRIDGE:

Am [stop chord]     C        G

Carry on!  You will always remember.

Am [stop chord]    C          G

Carry on!  Nothing equals the splendor.

Dm       C                Bb  C
Dm     C                G

Now your life's no longer empty; surely Heaven waits for you.

 

CHORUS: