“Carry on Wayward Son” has firmly established itself as a timeless classic within the Kansas discography, captivating audiences for decades. Its cultural significance has surged recently, particularly with its inclusion as the featured track leading up to the highly anticipated new season of Amazon Prime’s gripping crime thriller Reacher, which premiered on February 20. This song’s enduring appeal continues to resonate, highlighting its pivotal role in both music history and modern entertainment.

The connection between Kansas and the Reacher series traces back to its inaugural season, where the character of chief detective Oscar Finlay showcases his eclectic music taste by playing a CD while riding in the car with Jack Reacher. As the iconic a cappella introduction echoes through the stereo, Finlay enthusiastically claims, “Best opening of any rock song ever.” This leads to a light-hearted exchange where Reacher questions Finlay’s enthusiasm, to which Finlay responds, emphasizing the hidden talents of his bandmates, saying, “I gotta say, my guys don’t get their due. They can rock out.” This scene not only enhances the show’s atmosphere but also reinforces the song?s legendary status.

Experience Kansas’ ‘Carry on Wayward Son’ Featured in the ‘Reacher’ Trailer

The iconic a cappella introduction of “Carry on Wayward Son” emerged organically, as Kansas guitarist and co-founder Rich Williams recalls in an enlightening interview on the UCR Podcast. He reminisces, “I don’t know whose idea it was, but it was a unanimous decision as we were doing the vocal tracks, ‘This needs to be at the beginning. It just makes perfect sense.’” This instinctive choice marked the beginning of something remarkable, as the band quickly realized they had created a potential classic. Williams notes, “Listening to the whole album, that’s when it really hit us. ‘This is a game changer, this record.’ It was obvious that ‘Carry on Wayward Son’ was going to be a hit. We were really happy with it; we knew that finally, after three albums, our fourth album could make a significant impact.”

Discover the Story Behind the Creation of ‘Carry on Wayward Son’

The recording sessions for Leftoverture, Kansas’ groundbreaking fourth album, began amidst a creative crisis. The band found themselves without a full set of songs due to their grueling tour schedule, and vocalist Steve Walsh was grappling with writer’s block. The album took its name from the ambitious composition “Magnum Opus,” which was initially referred to as “Leftoverture.” This title aptly reflected the song’s assembly, which included musical fragments developed during soundchecks and leftover ideas from their previous album, Masque.

Guitarist Kerry Livgren emerged as the primary songwriter, crafting five out of the eight tracks on Leftoverture. Notably, “Carry on Wayward Son” arrived just in time, literally on the final day of rehearsals. “We were in rehearsals in Topeka, finalizing material for what would become Leftoverture,” Williams explains. “The last song to come in was ‘Wayward Son,’ and we hadn’t fully developed it yet. It wasn’t arranged in its current form with verses and choruses until we entered the recording studio.” This moment of urgency ultimately shaped the song into the rock anthem it is today.

Williams elaborates, “It was kind of an assembly line. You’re working on the bass and drum tracks, progressing through the material. We had designated days for keyboards, guitars, and vocals, moving from one song to the next. Once we completed the basic tracks, we had to focus on the new song since everything else was finished. It was during this final recording phase that we arranged, learned, and began rolling tape on ‘Wayward Son.’ In fact, that version was likely the first time we played it correctly.” This meticulous process underscores the song’s eventual success and lasting legacy.

READ MORE: Kansas Continues to Shine with Their Iconic Album ‘Leftoverture’

Reacher represents just the latest resurgence of “Carry on Wayward Son,” which previously made waves over 15 seasons of the beloved show Supernatural from 2005 to 2019. Kansas has also performed this legendary track in a scene from the contemporary western crime drama, Walker. More recently, the AEW wrestling team, the Elite, adopted it as their entrance music, further solidifying its dynamic appeal. Fans can even catch a humorous rendition of what it might sound like if South Park’s Cartman took the lead vocals on social media platforms.

“It’s becoming normalized,” Williams comments on the song’s frequent appearances in various media. “I?ll often get calls from Phil, asking, ‘What do you think about it being in this next show?’ It’s astonishing to see how often it’s utilized! A few months ago, I learned it would feature in the season 3 preview for Reacher, but I held off watching it until my wife and I finished the first two seasons. When I finally viewed the trailer, I was incredibly impressed with how they incorporated the song. It’s astounding that a track over 40 years old remains so relevant and impactful.” This lasting relevance speaks volumes about the song’s quality and the band’s influence.

The band celebrated their 50th anniversary with a memorable tour that concluded at the end of 2024. Despite current vocalist Ronnie Platt’s battle with thyroid cancer, he maintains a positive outlook, and the group is enthusiastic about returning to the stage. Kansas has exciting concert plans lined up for 2025, including a series of co-headlining summer shows with 38 Special.

Watch Kansas Deliver a Stunning Live Performance of ‘Carry on Wayward Son’ in 2024