Boot Camp Blues

This track comes from Aaron's military service — Air Force enlisted, Army Infantry officer, DoD civilian at SPAWAR/NIWC. It tackles The raw experience of Navy boot camp, being broken down and built back up, the moments that defined character. The lyrics get specific — "Great Lakes, Illinois, middle of the cold" — because personal tracks on Majik's are personal for real, not performatively. The Southern rock production matches the energy of the confession. It hits gritty and nostalgic, in that order. Every personal track in the catalogue comes from a real moment, a real feeling, a real person. This one is no exception.

[verse 1] Great Lakes, Illinois, middle of the cold Eighteen years old trying to be bold Drill instructor screaming like the world's on fire Push-ups in the rain, mud up to the wire Stransky, why you smiling, drop and give me fifty Yes sir, yes sir, body getting gritty They tear you down to nothing, strip away the boy Rebuild you as a weapon, discipline's the alloy [chorus] Boot camp blues, they broke me down to size Boot camp blues, put steel behind my eyes Wouldn't trade a single day of pain and cold Boot camp made me worth my weight in gold [verse 2] Folding corners tight enough to bounce a dime Every minute scheduled, wasting none of time That's the code I carried into everything From the Navy deck plates to the code I bring A-A-Ron wasn't born with this discipline, nah It was drilled and forged and hammered by the law So when they ask me how I build so fast and clean I say boot camp taught me what efficiency means [chorus] Boot camp blues, they broke me down to size Boot camp blues, put steel behind my eyes Wouldn't trade a single day of pain and cold Boot camp made me worth my weight in gold [bridge] Letter home said mama, I'll be fine Difficult roads lead to beautiful design Didn't know it then but every single drill Was the foundation of my iron will [chorus] Boot camp blues, they broke me down to size Boot camp blues, put steel behind my eyes Wouldn't trade a single day of pain and cold Boot camp made me worth my weight in gold [outro] Still making my rack every morning Some habits don't die, they just evolve