The Wayward Wind

The "Wayward Wind" of the title is a metaphor for wanderlust: an irrepressible urge to travel and explore. This is further emphasized by describing it as a "restless wind." In the context of the 19th century setting of shanty towns and railroads, the Western United States was still largely unexplored by European settlers. Concurrent to the era of lone cowboys on horseback, the First transcontinental railroad was built.File:Gogi Grant - The Wayward Wind - Cash Box 1956.jpg magazine, July 1956]] Steam trains were a gateway the American frontier romanticized in literature, songs and film. The subject of the song is a young man who lives near train tracks; the sound of passing trains instills him with an irrepressible urge to travel. On his journeys he falls in love and attempts to settle down and lead a normal life, but the urge to wander is too strong. The phrase "Next of kin", which is a colloquialism meaning the person's closest living relative, may suggest that the wandering man has no family or connection and will perhaps wander his entire life.

Originally recorded and sung in third person narration from the point of view of the young man's lover/wife, by female pop singer Gogi Grant, the song is often adapted to male singers and sung in first person from the point of view of the young man.

In 1956, other versions were recorded, including versions by Tex Ritter, and Jimmy Young, with Ritter's version proving popular in England, reaching No. 8 on the UK charts. Ritter used the song to open his stage shows.{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oyIEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA43 |page=43 |title=Law's Loss is Country's Gain |author=Staff |magazine=Billboard |date=December 7, 1968 |volume=80 |number=49 |issn=0006-2510}}

In 1961, Grant's recording was reissued and reached Billboard No. 50 and Cash Box No. 78. In 1963, a new recording was made by Frank Ifield, which reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart for three weeks duration.{{cite book

| first= David

| last= Roberts

| year= 2006

| title= British Hit Singles & Albums

| edition= 19th

| publisher= Guinness World Records Limited

| location= London

| isbn= 1-904994-10-5

| page= 147}}

The song made the Billboard country chart in a version by Irish flautist James Galway with vocal accompaniment by American country singer Sylvia. Produced in Nashville by Bill Pursell,{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kaRmDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA200 |page=200 |title=Crooked River City: The Musical Life of Nashville's William Pursell |last=Klefstad |first=Klefstad |date=2018 |publisher=University Press of Mississippi |isbn=9781496818676}} the single was released in 1982 and it rose to No. 57 in 1983.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NM3eDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA246 |page=246 |title=The Cowboy in Country Music: An Historical Survey with Artist Profiles |last=Cusic |first=Don |date=2011 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=9780786463145}}

Neil Young named Gogi Grant's recording as one of the five songs that most inspired him when growing up, noting that, "I think it was grade four, I heard this song and for some reason, I associate it with the school and the highway, and the railroad tracks going behind the school."{{cite web|url=https://www.audacy.com/national/music/neil-young-shares-the-songs-that-inspire-him-with-conan-obrien-listen-now|title=Neil Young shares the songs that inspire him with Conan O'Brien|date=2023|website=Audacy}}

• Tex Ritter (1956) No. 28 (U.S.), No. 8 (UK)
• Jimmy Young (1956) No. 27 (UK)
• Gene Vincent on the album A Gene Vincent Record Date (1958)
• The Everly Brothers on the album Both Sides of an Evening (1961)
• Patsy Cline on the album Showcase (1961)
• Eddy Arnold on the album Cattle Call (1963)
• Frank Ifield (1963) No. 1 (UK), No. 16 (Australia), No. 3 (Ireland), No. 104 (U.S.)
• Crystal Gayle on the album When I Dream (1978)
• James Galway featuring Sylvia (1982) No. 57 (U.S.); No. 29 (CAN-Country);{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.6209.pdf| title=RPM Top 50 Country Singles - March 26, 1983}} No. 13 (CAN-AC){{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.6218.pdf| title=RPM Top 30 AC Singles - April 2, 1983}}
• Neil Young on the album Old Ways (1985)
• Anne Murray (1994) No. 7 (Canada Country);{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.2412.pdf| title=RPM Top 100 Country Singles - March 14, 1994}} No. 6 (Can AC);{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.2394.pdf| title=RPM Top 40 AC - February 28, 1994}} No. 70 (Can Top 100){{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.2375.pdf| title=RPM Top 100 Singles - January 31, 1994}}
• Sam Cooke on the album Hits of the 50's (1960)

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Category:1956 songs

Category:Sylvia (singer) songs

Category:Tex Ritter songs

Category:Frank Ifield songs

Category:Songs written by Stanley Lebowsky

Category:1956 singles

Category:1963 singles

Category:UK singles chart number-one singles

Category:Number-one singles in the United States