Carry On Wayward Son
"Carry On Wayward Son" by Kansas is the closest thing Supernatural has to a theme song. It has been embraced by fandom and is usually sung as the final song at karaoke at Supernatural Conventions, and just about any time two of more SPN fans get together!
The song was first used over the montage at the beginning of 1.21 Salvation, it has subsequently been used at the beginning of the finale episodes 2.22 All Hell Breaks Loose: Part Two, 3.16 No Rest for the Wicked, 4.22 Lucifer Rising, 5.22 Swan Song, 6.22 The Man Who Knew Too Much, 7.23 Survival of the Fittest, 8.23 Sacrifice, 9.23 Do You Believe in Miracles?, 10.23 Brother's Keeper, 11.23 Alpha and Omega, 12.23 All Along the Watchtower, 13.23 Let the Good Times Roll and 14.20 Moriah.
Eric Kripke said of the song, "We had an old jukebox in our basement growing up. I found a song on it that I liked and played a LOT: #CarryOnWaywardSon."
A slow version of the song was performed as part of Supernatural: The Musical! in 10.05 Fan Fiction. It was performed by Vivien Armour, Alyssa Lynch, Kelli Ogmundson, Katie Sarife, Rachel Warkentin, and Nina Winkler with music performed by Jay Gruska. You can purchase this version here.
In 15.20 Carry On, the series finale, the song does not play over the beginning of the episode like usual. Instead, it plays over the Impala's radio as Dean drives through Heaven.
The song, written by band member Kerry Livgren, was originally recorded by Kansas for their 1976 album Leftoverture. Kansas made a documentary about the "song that changed the world" - Carry On Wayward Son.
At Comic-Con 2017 the Supernatural panel in Hall H opened with a live performance of "Carry On Wayward Son" by Kansas.
- Opening video and Kansas performance by EW
- How 'Supernatural' Pulled Off That Comic-Con Surprise With Kansas by Hollywood Reporter
Lyrics
Carry On Wayward Son
Carry on my wayward son
No more
There'll be peace when you are done
Lay your weary head to rest
Don't you cry no more
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
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 dreamin',
I can hear them say
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
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 a course for winds of fortune, but
I hear the voices say
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
Carry on, you will always remember
Carry on, nothing equals the splendor
Now your life's no longer empty
Surely heaven waits for you
Carry on my wayward son,
There'll be peace when you are done
Lay your weary head to rest
Don't you cry,
Don't you cry no more,
– Kerry Livgren, Kansas
Covers
In 2016 it was performed by the artist Iacovos with the music video featuring a Supernatural themed sketch. (Link)
For 10.05 Fan Fiction, a cover of "Carry On Wayward Son" was produced by series composer Jay Gruska, featuring Vivien Amour, Alyssa Lynch, Kelli Ogmundson, Katie Sarife, Rachel Warkentin & Nina Winkler on vocals. The song would again be used in "The Road So Far" montage for 10.23 Brother's Keeper, before kicking into the original version of the song.
For the series finale, "Carry On Wayward Son" was used in an ending montage showing Dean driving through Heaven and Sam living his life on earth. The song eventually shifts to a cover version by the group Neoni and is played as Sam eventually passed away from old age and is reunited with Dean in Heaven.
