Kansas’ Dust in the Wind

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Kansas’ Dust in the Wind

Kansas' Dust in the Wind

Soft Rock Music

The song was written by Kansas member, musician, and songwriter Kerry Livgren. It was a last-minute addition to their 1977 album Point of Know Reutrn. Livgren had been reading Native American poetry and was taken with the idea that we are just dust in the wind. Kansas was successful as a band and they had a hit in 1976 with “Wayward Son.” Livgren philosophized that they couldn’t take all that materialistic glory with them when they died. Hence, the song. Its slow, thoughtful, acoustic nature made it seem not like a Kansas song to Livgren, but the group loved it. As did the public. It turned out to Kansas’ only Top Ten Bilboard Hot 100 charting single.  In 1978, “Dust in the Wind” went to #3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary charts. It went to #1 on the Canadian Top Adult Contemporary Chart and #3 on the Canadian Top 100.  The single earned RIAA Gold certification and twenty-five years later earned RIAA gold for digital download format of the song.

On the track were Kerry Livgren (acoustic guitar, backing vocals), Phil Ehart (percussion), Robby Steinhardt (harmony vocals, viola, violin), Steve Walsh (lead and harmony vocals), and Rich Williams (acoustic guitar). Kansas continues to tour and perform.

Here are the lyrics to “Dust in the Wind” by Kansas:

I close my eyes, only for a moment
And the moment’s gone
All my dreams pass before my eyes, a curiosity

Dust in the wind
All they are is dust in the wind

Same old song, just a drop of water
In an endless sea
All we do crumbles to the ground
Though we refuse to see

Dust in the wind
All we are is dust in the wind

Oh, ho, ho

Now, don’t hang on, nothing lasts forever but the earth and sky
It slips away, and all your money won’t another minute buy

Dust in the wind
All we are is dust in the wind [x2]

Dust in the wind
Everything is dust in the wind [x2]
The wind

For More 70s Tunes

The System has daily featured music from all sorts of genres of 1970s music. You’re welcome to listen to any of the 40+ selections in The System. Thank you for stopping by. Hope you enjoyed “Dust in the Wind” by Kansas.

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