Kansas - Dust in the Wind - Lyrics Meaning

Kansas released "Dust in the Wind," the second single from their album "Point of No Return," in January of 1978. This haunting song, written by Kerry Livgren, became one of the band's first acoustic tracks. Livgren didn't want to include the song on the album, but the band thought otherwise and it seems majority ruled. Since the song subsequently became their biggest hit, it was obviously a wise decision.

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.

Livgren's inspiration for the song reportedly came from a line in a book of Native American poetry which said, "For all we are is dust in the wind." He later stated that the song was intended to remind people that life goes by quickly; will be over long before you know it; and there is nothing that you can take with you when you go.

On a more profound level, it asks what life is all about while exploring the prospect of death and the reality that in the big picture, one's lifetime plays a pretty insignificant role.