Dust in the Wind

This article is about the 1977 song by Kansas. For the 1986 movie by Hou Hsiao-Hsien, see Dust in the Wind (film). For the Todd Rundgren song, see Something/Anything?

"Dust in the Wind"
Single by Kansas
from the album Point of Know Return
B-side	"Paradox"
Released	January 16, 1978
Recorded	June–July 1977
Genre	Progressive rock, soft rock
Length	3:27
Label	Kirshner
Writer(s)	Kerry Livgren
Producer(s)	Jeff Glixman, Kansas
Kansas singles chronology
"Point of Know Return" (1977) "Dust in the Wind" (1978) "Portrait (He Knew)" (1978)
Point of Know Return track listing 10 tracks "Point of Know Return" "Paradox" "The Spider" "Portrait (He Knew)" "Closet Chronicles" "Lightning's Hand" "Dust in the Wind" "Sparks of the Tempest" "Nobody's Home" "Hopelessly Human"

"Dust in the Wind" is a song recorded by American progressive rock band Kansas and written by band member Kerry Livgren, first released on their 1977 album Point of Know Return.

The song peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 the week of April 22, 1978, making it Kansas's only top ten Billboard Hot 100 charting single. The 45-rpm single was certified Gold for sales of one million units by the RIAA shortly after the height of its popularity as a hit single. More than 25 years later, the RIAA certified Gold the digital download format of the song, Kansas' only single to do so certified as of September 17, 2008.

Background and writing

A last-minute addition to the track lineup for Point of Know Return, "Dust in the Wind" would also be its greatest success.

The guitar line for this song was written by Kerry Livgren as a finger exercise for learning fingerpicking. His wife, Vicci, heard what he was doing, remarked that the melody was nice, and encouraged him to write lyrics for it. Livgren was unsure whether his fellow band members would like it, since it was a departure from their signature style. However he did offer it to them, and the song was accepted and then recorded.

"Dust in the Wind" was one of Kansas's first acoustic tracks; its slow melancholy melody and philosophical lyrics differ from their other hits such as "Carry On Wayward Son" and "Point of Know Return". A meditation on mortality and the inevitability of death, the lyrical theme bears a striking resemblance to the well-known biblical passage Genesis 3:19 ("...for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return."), as well as to the famous opening lines of the Japanese war epic The Tale of the Heike ("...the mighty fall at last, and they are as dust before the wind.") and from a book of Native American poetry, which includes the line "for all we are is dust in the wind."

The guitar track comes from two guitarists playing six-string guitars in unison, one in standard tuning and the other in Nashville tuning, to create a chimy sound similar to a twelve-string guitar. The instrumental bridge contains a distinctive melodic line and harmony for violin and viola.

Kansas also released a live version of the song on their album Two for the Show and a symphonic version on Always Never the Same.

Personnel

• Phil Ehart – percussion
• Kerry Livgren – acoustic guitar, backing vocals
• Robby Steinhardt – harmony vocals, viola, violin
• Steve Walsh – lead and harmony vocals
• Rich Williams – acoustic guitar

Chart performance

Chart (1978)	Peak position
Australian Kent Music Report	52
Belgian VRT Top 30	29
Canadian RPM Top 100	3
Canadian RPM Top Adult Contemporary	1
Dutch Singles Chart	19
French Singles Chart	22
New Zealand Singles Chart	36
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	6
U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary	6
U.S. Cashbox Top 100	3

Year-end charts

Chart (1978)	Peak position
Canadian RPM Top Singles	24
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	39
U.S. Cashbox Top 100	37

Certifications

Country	Provider	Certification
Canada	CRIA	Gold
United States	RIAA	Gold

Trivia

• In the 1989 film, Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, Bill and Ted encounter a language barrier when they meet the Greek philosopher, Socrates. With Bill's suggestion, Ted 'philosophises' that "All we are, is dust in the wind," while making pertinent gestures.
• It was featured in the 2003 movie Old School where it was sung by Will Ferrell's character at Blue's funeral, and at the end of the movie Blue sang the song while playing a piano in the sky.
• Following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the song was placed on the list of songs deemed 'lyrically questionable' distributed by Clear Channel.
• It was used during the second season episodes of Highlander: The Series, "The Darkness" and "Unholy Alliance".
• "Dust in the Wind" is featured in an episode of The Simpsons.
• It was shown as number 7 on VH1's 40 Greatest Softsational Soft Rock Songs of All Time.
• The song appears on the game Karaoke Revolution Party.
• The song appears in the episode of Family Guy, "The Juice Is Loose".
• In season two of the comedy series Party Down the song is discovered playing on repeat on Ron Donald's iPod subsequent his breakup with his girlfriend.
• The song appeared twice (first on the company bus before the bridge collapse premonition, and second during the ending) in the 2011 horror film Final Destination 5 starring Nicholas D'Agosto and Emma Bell.
• The song appeared in the episode of Supernatural, "Appointment in Samarra".
• The song was used during the second season of Russian TV-series Кukhnya
• In the Disney show, Recess (season 1, episode 2), the new kid, Gus Griswald, sadly walks away from his friends saying, "Dust in the wind, all we are is dust in the wind."

Cover versions

• A parody titled "Dust Up His Nose" (a song about a PCP addict), was sung by Larry Rand in 1978 and played often on the Dr. Demento Radio Show.
• The Buddy Miles Regiment covered the song on their 1981 Double LP Sneak Attack.
• Soprano and Broadway star Sarah Brightman covered the song on her 1998 album Eden.
• In 1999, Canadian reggae singer Snow recorded a reggae version of Dust in the Wind, called Hard Life, on his Cooler Conditions album.
• The American R&B and Neo-soul singer Eric Benét covered the song on his 1999 album A Day in the Life.
• An electronic dance version was released by Interface in 1999.
• The song was sampled in 1999 by American singer Jordan Knight on his song "Close My Eyes".
• The Scorpions included a live version of "Dust In The Wind" on their 2001 CD Acoustica.
• Metalium included the song as the bonus track on the Live-CD packaged with their 2001 DVD/Video release Metalian Attack.
• Brazilian singer, acoustic guitarist and cover artist Emmerson Nogueira released a version of the song in his debut album Versão Acústica.
• The American trip hop group Daughter Darling included a cover on their debut album Sweet Shadows, released in 2002.
• Melanie Safka covered the song on her 2002 album Moments from my Life.
• Former New York Yankee center fielder Bernie Williams plays a jazz guitar version on his album titled The Journey Within released in 2003.
• The gospel group Acappella covers the song on his 2004 album Heaven and Earth, according the song, the rap is included.
• William Joseph covers the song on his 2004 album Within, featuring Garou as the lead singer.
• Two time Best American DJ award winning duo Gabriel & Dresden covered "Dust In The Wind" in their 2006 self-titled album Gabriel & Dresden, featuring Molly Bancroft as the lead singer.
• The Brazilian singer Paula Fernandes included a version of the song as the title track for her 2006 album.
• The Sasha & Shawna album Siren includes a cover of the song. This album, produced by Peter Asher, was released in 2007.
• Beaker performed the song in a popular YouTube video.
• The version by Spanish heavy metal band Mägo de Oz is called "Pensando en ti" (Thinking about you). It was performed only live and can be heard on their live album Fölktergeist and on the Live DVD A Costa da Rock. A studio version for this song was also included in the "El Que Quiera Entender Que Entienda" single.
• Kansas ex-lead singer John Elefante covers "Dust in the Wind" in his 2010 album 3 with band Mastedon. It also features the song's author and founding Kansas member Kerry Livgren on electric guitar.
• Murray Head covers the song on his 2012 album "My Back Pages"
• In 2012 the song was covered by post-grunge band Black Lab.

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics