"Dust in the Wind" is the title of a song recorded by Kansas, a progressive rock band from the state with the same name, USA.
Being released as a single for their 1977 album titled "Point of Know Return", it has been released on the label Kirshner and was written by band member Kerry Livgren and co-produced with the help of Jeff Glixman.
Reaching as high as number six on the Billboard Hot 100 charts in April 1978, it’s the only single that has been on the top ten of Billboard charts.
Getting certified Gold for selling over one million copies worldwide, in 2008 the digital release of the song has also been certified Gold.
Being written and produced as one of the last songs on the album, the single has had its guitar line written by Kerry Livgren, who was just exercising finger picking and, at the advice of his wife, he decided to write lyrics for the melody.
Being one of Kansas’ first acoustic tracks, it derived from their original signature style, with slow melody and philosophical lyrics.
The song’s title getting repeated in the chorus saying that "All we are is dust in the wind" and "Everything is dust in the wind".
A song about mortality and maybe a bit religious, its aim is to make us appreciate life more, seeing as time passes and the wind remains to wipe away our memories and the memory of us.
The instrumental bridge contains a distinctive melodic line and harmony for violin and viola, the guitar track being composed of two guitars playing six-strings in unison, one in standard tuning and the other in Nashville tuning.
A live version for "Dust in the Wind" was released on their album "Two for the Show" and also a symphonic version on "Always Never the Same".
Charting 52 on the Australian Kent Music Report, 29 on the Belgian VRT Top 30, third on Canada’s RPM Top 100 and top of the Canada RPM Top Adult Contemporary, 19 on the Dutch Singles Charts, 22 on the French Singles Charts, 36 on the New Zealand Singles Charts, sixth on the Billboard Hot 100 and the Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks, while ranking third on the US Cashbox Top 100, "Dust in the Wind" got certified Gold in both Canada and the US.
