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Carry On Wayward Son

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Carry on, my wayward son
There'll be peace when you are done
Lay your weary head to rest
         (drums count in 1&  &3 4)
Don't you cry no more
Riff 1: Electric 2 / bass riff   (6 measures)
| 1 & 2 & 3 4 & 1 & 2 3 & triplet | 1 & 2 3 & |  (x2)
    A    G    A  CKeys A[GorAgaDn]/eEleGctEriDc C1 singDle GnotDesF#  
Breakdown 1: (half time, octaves)  (6 measures)
| 1 & 2 3 4 & | 1 2 triplet triplet | (x3)
  E E     E E       A B D   G D E
Riff 1 with Solo: Electric 2 / bass riff   (6 measures)
     Keys organ single notes
     Electric 1 solo
Breakdown 2: (half time, octaves 1 guitar very high) (4 measures)
| 1 & 2 3 4 & | 1 2 triplet triplet | (x2)
  E E     E E       A B D   G D E
Tag: (half time) (3 measures)
All notes are different (you will have to pick them out)
Slow triplet x2   F (sustain for 2 measures)
[Verse 1] (soft, only keys [piano] arpeggiated)
AmOnce I Grose above the Fnoise and Gconfusion
AmJust to Gget a glimpse Fbeyond this Gillusion
DmI was Csoaring ever BbhigherBb  C  
    Dm          C       G(bass/drums in)
But I flew too high
AmThough my Geyes could see I Fstill was a Gblind man
AmThough my Gmind could think FI still was Ga mad man
DmI hear the Cvoices when I'm Bbdreaming
DmI can Chear them Gsay
[Chorus 1]
AmCarry Con, my Gwayward Fson,  Amthere'll be Cpeace when Gyou are done
       Am       C         G     F   F(hit and off)              Riff 1
Lay your weary head to rest,   don't you cry no more
[Verse 2] (soft, keys [piano] arpeggiated /bass/drums)
AmMasqueGrading as a Fman with a Greason
AmMy chaGrade is the Fevent of the Gseason
DmAnd if I Cclaim to be a Bbwise manBb  C  
DmIt surely Cmeans that I don't Gknow
AmOn a Gstormy sea of Fmoving Gemotion
AmTossed Gabout I'm like a Fship on the Gocean
DmI set Ca course for winds of BbfortuneBb  C  
DmBut I Chear the voices Gsay
[Chorus 2]
AmCarry Con, my Gwayward Fson,  Amthere'll be Cpeace when Gyou are done
       Am       C         G     F   F(hit and off)      1 2 3 4*Drum hit
Lay your weary head to rest,   don't you cry no more
[Solo 1] (medium-soft, bass/drums/electrics only)    (8 measures)
| 1 & 2 3 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & | 1 & 2 3 4 & 1 & 2 & | x2
  A A       G   A   D   C   A A       G   A   D
[Solo 2] (1st time, keys [organ] solo, 2nd time, electric solo)
| 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 e  | 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & | x2
  E E   D   C#  B   A   G   E   G    E E   D   C#  B D F#  G   G#  A
[Riff 1]
[Bridge] (medium)
 Am   Am(mute)
Carry on 1  2 & 3 & 4 &
GYou will FalwayEs FreGmeAmbCer
 Am   Am(mute)
Carry on 1  2   & 3 & 4 &
GNothing  Fequals EthFe GspAleCndor
DmNow your Clife's no longer BbemptyBb  C  
DmSurely CHeaven waits for Gyou
[Ending Chorus] (medium)
AmCarry Con, my Gwayward Fson,  Amthere'll be Cpeace when Gyou are done
       Am       C         G     F   F(hit and off)              Breakdown 2 vamp
Lay your weary head to rest,   don't you cry no more

The story behind the song

"Carry On Wayward Son" is a signature song for the American rock band Kansas, who formed in Topeka, Kansas, in 1973. Guitarist Kerry Livgren wrote this track, which was released on their 1976 album, Leftoverture. The song became their first Top 40 hit and has remained a classic rock radio staple.

AI-written from these sources:Carry On Wayward Son — Wikipedia ↗Kansas (band) — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

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Carry On Wayward Son

by Kansas

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Carry on, my wayward son

There'll be peace when you are done

Lay your weary head to rest

(drums count in 1& &3 4)

Don't you cry no more

Riff 1: Electric 2 / bass riff (6 measures)

| 1 & 2 & 3 4 & 1 & 2 3 & triplet | 1 & 2 3 & | (x2)

A G A C A G A D E G E D C D G D F#

Keys [organ]/electric 1 single notes

Breakdown 1: (half time, octaves) (6 measures)

| 1 & 2 3 4 & | 1 2 triplet triplet | (x3)

E E E E A B D G D E

Riff 1 with Solo: Electric 2 / bass riff (6 measures)

Keys organ single notes

Electric 1 solo

Breakdown 2: (half time, octaves 1 guitar very high) (4 measures)

| 1 & 2 3 4 & | 1 2 triplet triplet | (x2)

E E E E A B D G D E

Tag: (half time) (3 measures)

All notes are different (you will have to pick them out)

Slow triplet x2 F (sustain for 2 measures)

[Verse 1] (soft, only keys [piano] arpeggiated)

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

I was soaring ever higher

Dm C G

(bass/drums in)

But I flew too high

Am G F G

Though my eyes could see I still was a blind man

Am G F G

Though my mind could think I still was a mad man

Dm C Bb

I hear the voices when I'm dreaming

Dm C G

I can hear them say

[Chorus 1]

Am C G F Am C G

Carry on, my wayward son, there'll be peace when you are done

Am C G F F

(hit and off) Riff 1

Lay your weary head to rest, don't you cry no more

[Verse 2] (soft, keys [piano] arpeggiated /bass/drums)

Am G F G

Masquerading as a man with a reason

Am G F G

My charade is the event of the season

Dm C Bb Bb C

And if I claim to be a wise man

Dm C G

It surely means that I don't know

Am G F G

On a stormy sea of moving emotion

Am G F G

Tossed about I'm like a ship on the ocean

Dm C Bb Bb C

I set a course for winds of fortune

Dm C G

But I hear the voices say

[Chorus 2]

Am C G F Am C G

Carry on, my wayward son, there'll be peace when you are done

Am C G F F

(hit and off) 1 2 3 4*Drum hit

Lay your weary head to rest, don't you cry no more

[Solo 1] (medium-soft, bass/drums/electrics only) (8 measures)

| 1 & 2 3 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & | 1 & 2 3 4 & 1 & 2 & | x2

A A G A D C A A G A D

[Solo 2] (1st time, keys [organ] solo, 2nd time, electric solo)

| 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 e | 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & | x2

E E D C# B A G E G E E D C# B D F# G G# A

[Riff 1]

[Bridge] (medium)

Am Am

(mute)

Carry on 1 2 & 3 & 4 &

G F E F G A C

You will always remember

Am Am

(mute)

Carry on 1 2 & 3 & 4 &

G F E F G A C

Nothing equals the splendor

Dm C Bb Bb C

Now your life's no longer empty

Dm C G

Surely Heaven waits for you

[Ending Chorus] (medium)

Am C G F Am C G

Carry on, my wayward son, there'll be peace when you are done

Am C G F F

(hit and off) Breakdown 2 vamp

Lay your weary head to rest, don't you cry no more

About Carry On Wayward Son Chords by Kansas

Learn how to play Carry On Wayward Son by Kansas with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Carry On Wayward Son chords”, “Carry On Wayward Son guitar chords”, or “Kansas Carry On Wayward Son chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy Carry On Wayward Son chords and for experienced players who want accurate Carry On Wayward Son lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include A, G, C, D, E, F#.

FAQ — Carry On Wayward Son by Kansas

How do I play "Carry On Wayward Son" by Kansas on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Carry On Wayward Son" by Kansas on Free Chord Book. Tap any chord to see its diagram, use transpose to change the key, and turn on auto-scroll to play hands-free.

Are the chords for "Carry On Wayward Son" by Kansas free?

Yes. The chords for "Carry On Wayward Son" by Kansas are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "Carry On Wayward Son" to a different key?

Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "Carry On Wayward Son" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.

Can I see chord diagrams for "Carry On Wayward Son"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "Carry On Wayward Son" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "Carry On Wayward Son" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Carry On Wayward Son" by Kansas with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Kansas below.

What key is "Carry On Wayward Son" in?

The chords for "Carry On Wayward Son" show the original chord names (including A, G, C, D, E, F#). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.