Why Kansas Thought Their Biggest Hit Was Also A Curse

Kansas had been steadily building a loyal fan base, but mainstream success still felt out of reach. Their first three albums found an audience, yet none had broken through to platinum status. That all changed with Leftoverture in 1976.

Its opening track, “Carry On My Wayward Son”, became an unexpected game-changer. The soaring harmonies, intricate guitar work, and powerful lyrics helped push the song—and the band—to new heights. It was their first Top 40 hit and remains a rock staple to this day.

But success came with a downside. Despite the song’s impact, Kansas later admitted they saw it as a “gentle curse.” Instead of feeling liberated by their biggest hit, they found themselves weighed down by it in ways they never expected.

Kansas and Their Hit Paradox

Kansas isn’t your typical one-hit-wonder. While they didn’t achieve massive mainstream success with every album, casual listeners still associate them with their signature hits. Tracks like “Carry On My Wayward Son” and “Dust in the Wind” instantly come to mind. These songs marked the band’s transition from cult favorites to platinum-selling rock stars, especially with Leftoverture in 1976.

But success comes with both rewards and pressures. Founding member Kerry Livgren described the experience as a “blessing.” The band enjoyed financial stability thanks to royalties, and the success introduced them to a much larger audience, opening doors they hadn’t imagined.

Yet, the pressure to keep producing hits started to weigh on them. Livgren explained how the success of their big tracks, like “Carry On My Wayward Son” and “Dust in the Wind,” came with a “gentle curse.” The band’s newfound fame and expectation to replicate such success often overshadowed their creative freedom.

The Power and Pressure Behind “Carry On My Wayward Son”

Despite the massive shadow “Carry On My Wayward Son” cast over Kansas’s career, co-founder Rich Williams doesn’t mind playing it night after night. He values the crowd’s incredible reaction, saying it’s a thrill to be part of something so special. Williams can’t understand musicians who tire of playing their biggest songs, pointing out that those tracks are the reason fans are there. He believes if a song put you on the map, there’s no reason to resent it.

The creation of Carry On My Wayward Son wasn’t without its own pressure. Vocalist Steve Walsh, struggling to come up with ideas for the band’s fourth album, left much of the songwriting to guitarist Kerry Livgren. Livgren recalls the intense stress of having to write a hit, which pushed him into a creative zone he had never experienced before.

The pressure worked, as the result was a track that became a defining anthem for Kansas. But that success didn’t come without its toll. Livgren’s drive to deliver something great led him to produce one of the band’s most iconic songs, but it was also a reminder of the burdens that success can bring.

The Last-Minute Addition of “Carry On My Wayward Son”

When Kerry Livgren wrote “Carry On My Wayward Son,” Kansas was nearly done with their recording sessions. The band wasn’t eager to add a new song at the last minute. Rich Williams recalled in Prog how they initially hesitated, not wanting to extend the process any further.

However, once they played the song, the reaction was immediate. Williams noted that their initial laziness gave way to excitement as they realized how special “Wayward Son” was. They quickly decided it would replace another track on the album.

The decision proved to be a game-changer. The song skyrocketed to No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1977, marking Kansas’s first Top 40 hit and earning them a signature song that would define their legacy.