Early on in the epic poem The Odyssey, a depressed Telemachus embarks on journey to find the answers about how his father met his "death". Fortunately for him, he is not alone, and has the support of people King Nestor, King Menalaus, and Athena. All three characters tell Telemachus how great of a man his father was, and tell him to keep going. Although Telemachus is certainly not wayward, because he has the love and support of Nestor, Menelaus, and Athena, I chose the song Carry On Wayward Son, by the band Kansas.
Although King Nestor and King Menelaus are supportive of Telemachus' quest, Athena stands by him the most. She is, in fact, the one who tells him to make the journey in the first place. "Now if you hear your father's alive and heading home, hard-pressed as you are, brave out one more year. If you hear he's dead [...] build his honors high with the full funeral rites he deserves (Book 1 330-335)." "You must not cling to your boyhood any longer-It's time you were a man (Book 1 341-342)." These two quotes from Athena relate to the lines "Carry on my wayward son/ There'll be peace when you are done/ Lay your weary head to rest/ Don't you cry no more."
In addition to the chorus of the song, another passage from the song, "On a stormy sea of moving emotion/ Tossed about I'm like a ship on the ocean," relates to Telemachus' feelings about his father Odysseus. Whenever his father is mentioned, Telemachus is hit hard with many waves of grief. For example Menelaus finishes speaking to him about how courageous and honorable Odysseus was, and Telemachus can't help but break down and cry. "Such memories stirred in the young prince a deep desire to grieve for Odysseus. Tears streamed down his cheeks and wet the ground when he heard his father's name (Book 4 126-129)."
So carry on Telemachus. Carry on, son.
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