This is Kerry Livgren, the guitarist who in 1976  wrote “Carry On Wayward Son” at the last minute, giving his band, Kansas, no time to rehearse it.
The song became a massive hit.

According to Livgren, “It’s an autobiographical song. Parallel to my musical career I’ve always been on a spiritual sojourn, looking for truth and meaning. It was a song of self-encouragement. I was telling myself to keep on looking and I would find what I sought.”

Livgren met Jesus on July 25, 1979, and began recording Christian rock.

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.

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 dreaming.
I can hear them say…

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, 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.)
… No more.

written by Kerry Livgren