username July 10th, 2005 11:02AM  
This is loaded with biblical metaphors, including the lifting of a sinner's (wayward) burdens by God: "Lay your weary head to rest, don't you cry no more; there'll be peace when you are done." (thanks, chas - tampa, FL)

helldawg66 April 21st, 2007 11:59PM  
This song is about a person who is entirely lost mentally. They are unsure of theirself, and don't know what is going on in the world around them. In the song, the person who is unsure is being told not to worry and that everything will be fine.

anonymous June 24th, 2007 08:16PM  
I always assumed that Wayward Son was based on the ancient Myth of Daedalus and Icarus. It's about a father and son who build wings out of feathers and wax in order to escape from the Labyrinth. Icarus, the son, flies to close to the sun, the wax melts and he plummets into the ocean and dies. (I was soaring ever higher, but I flew to high.)

anonymous October 11th, 2008 01:38AM  
I think this has to do with the people in war.and the people who have a bad life filled with sadness,and about the people that realize the things we're doing to ruin this world, and the voices the hear when they dream is a sign from their conscience telling them it's gonna be alright. also that it represents the human being's quest for wealth. They fight their feelings to find out the wonders of life.
"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 "

and that's what I think the song means

anonymous February 22nd, 2009 11:35AM  
It's clearly an allusion of the Icarus myth. Both Icarus and Daedalus are talking Icarus :Tossed about I'm like a ship on the ocean: he drowns in the sea I set a course for winds of fortune: He's flying on the wind to escape the labyrint Daedalus: -Carry on my wayward son: Icarus dies because he is wayward, he doesn't listen to his father -There'll be peace when you are done: he can rest in peace Lay your weary head to rest: it's about the same thing Basically: It's both Icarus or Daedalus talking in the lyrics. You can find tons of references to the myth there.

dogjawinc April 7th, 2009 03:07AM  
Despite the seeming direct reference to Icarus, I've always felt the song was based on the parable of the prodigal son that Jesus tells (Luke 15:11-32). The chorus is the father (representing God in the parable) proclaiming 'go ahead on, my son, and when you grow tired of your foolishness and sin, I'll be here for you'. The verses are the son coming to the conclusion that he's blown it; he's a sinner. Again, the chorus repeats...I'm still here, c'mon back and it will all be ok. 'Lay your weary head to rest, don't you cry no more.'

dogjawinc April 8th, 2009 01:33AM  
Despite the seeming direct reference to Icarus, I've always felt the song was based on the parable of the prodigal son that Jesus tells (Luke 15:11-32). The chorus is the father (representing God in the parable) proclaiming 'go ahead on, my son, and when you grow tired of your foolishness and sin, I'll be here for you'. The verses are the son coming to the conclusion that he's blown it; he's a sinner. Again, the chorus repeats...I'm still here, c'mon back and it will all be ok. 'Lay your weary head to rest, don't you cry no more.'

anonymous April 20th, 2009 08:23PM  
This song, like many others that Kerry Livgren wrote, reflects his religious journey. Something inside of him was calling him to carry on. Obviously there are Biblical and Greek mythological references. I don't think that's what the song is about though.

anonymous June 21st, 2009 09:15PM  
I feel that the song has less to do about Greek and Bible Mythology and more about the way we live our lives. I see a person working and struggling through life who realizes that he's been wasting his life. He talks about rising above everything, he's describing climbing the "corporate ladder." Soaring ever higher but he flew too high, he lost sight of what was important. References to being blind but able to see are alluding to not seeing what's important. He dreams about leaving this life of stress and material. He is Wayward from his true self and doesn't want to live this way anymore. He even says he "set a course for winds of fortune, but I hear the voices say..." he tried to achieve fortune but he knew that was not his destiny. It is why he is on a "stormy sea of moving emotion." He is not happy and wants to change.

baldgi December 9th, 2009 05:19PM  
Alright knuckleheads. Here's the deal. To understand the words to this song, you have to be a FAN of Kansas's music, and that means ALL of it. The first line is:
"...once I rose above the noise and confusion, just to get a glipse beyond the illusion..."

This refers to aa line from a song off of the Masque album called the Pinnacle.

The line THERE says:
"...I stood where no man goes, ABOVE THE DIN I ROSE..."

"din" is a synonym for "confusion"


Kerry Livgren, in the early 70's was wandering spiritual vagrant. He knew there was more to life than the simple everyday. He dabbled in different religious philosophies and teachings. But nothing ever came to he that smacked him in the face. He was on a voyage, a spiritual voyage to figure out what he believed in. When this was written, he didn't know what he believed in, and that what it's about... It's about looking for answers, not finding them, and continuing your search regardless of the progress thus far.

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
(I thought I had the answer, but it wasnt for me)

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
(I still don't have the right answer)

{Refrain}

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

(So I'll fake it, pretend I know what the answer is, and MAYBE the answer will suddenly come to me by chance)

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
(Its very emotional for me, and very important, but if I stay the course, I'll find the right answer for me.)

anonymous March 12th, 2010 12:34AM  
I always thought this was about a soldier trying to rationalize what he's doing and his experiences in war.

These were the top three lines I found that seem to point towards his justifications:

---"There'll be peace when you are done" - usually claimed to be the reasons nations go to war. Our soldier here feels that he is bringing peace by fighting a just cause.

---"Masquerading as a man with a reason" - Again, he's trying to cling to the belief that his side is correct, and that there is a reason for the violence... However he is struggling with or even doubting this justification.

---"Surely heaven waits for you" - This could either be the belief that someday he will leave the horror of battle to a more pleasant place, maybe by death, or it could again be the product of the belief that what he is doing is right (aka going to gain him a place in heaven for his good deeds)

Other quotes:

---"Just to get a glimpse beyond this illusion" - this could represent the soldier's attempt to understand the true circumstances of the war, because he is questioning the morality of the war in which he involved. Perhaps he believes he is mislead regarding the enemy, the illusion being the original thoughts he had about the situation.

---"I can hear the voices when I'm dreaming" - Possibly the effects of PTSD, remembering the horror of war. This would be especially significant if he feels remorse for the killing.

---"My charade is the event of the season" - Perhaps our soldier feels cynical towards the glorification of war. He expresses contempt toward the sugar-coated coverage of his experiences during the war by media or other sources.

---"On a stormy sea of moving emotion" - again, during and after the war our soldier probably felt conflict of emotions regarding the morality of the situation. This would be intensified by the physical extremes he endured in combat.

---"You will always remember" - Simply put, he will never forget his service, for better or for worse.