Kerry Livgren devised what would be the guitar line for "Dust in the Wind" as a finger exercise for learning fingerpicking.

After Kansas had rehearsed all the songs intended for the band's recording sessions of June and July 1976, Livgren played "Dust in the Wind" for his bandmates, who after a moment's "stunned silence" asked: "Kerry, where has this been?

[14] In fact passed over as lead single choice in favor of its parent album's title cut, "Dust in the Wind" began receiving radio airplay as an album track, factoring into the underperformance of the "Point of Know Return" single[15] which dropped out of the Top 40 from its Billboard Hot 100 peak of No.

[16] Billboard praised the song's "evocative lyrics", "catchy melody" as well as the lead vocal performance and how the string instruments evoke the mood.

"[19] Ultimate Classic Rock critic Eduardo Rivadavia rated "Dust in the Wind" as Kansas' 3rd greatest song, calling it "a stark and gentle lament that bridges the group's transition from intimidating prog rockers to accessible hitmakers.

Cited by some critics as an anachronistic item in the operatic pop singer's repertoire,[39][40][41][42][43] the song was recorded at the suggestion of Eden's producer: Brightman's then personal partner Frank Peterson.

The new song, titled "Pensando en ti" changes the lyrics; from a meditation about mortality, it's now a ballad about the desire of meeting a someone that may make your dreams come true.

[44] During the 8888 Uprising, Burmese composer Naing Myanmar penned "Kabar Makyay Bu" (ကမ္ဘာမကျေဘူး), rendered in English as "We Won't Be Satisfied till the End of the World" as a protest song.

[45] Set to the tune of "Dust in the Wind," the song quickly gained popularity across the country, as an emotional appeal for freedom.

A rendition is performed by Will Ferrell during a graveside funeral for fraternity brother Joseph "Blue" Pulaski in the 2003 American comedy film Old School.