DD-214

This track comes from Aaron's military service — Air Force enlisted, Army Infantry officer, DoD civilian at SPAWAR/NIWC. It tackles The day of discharge, holding the DD-214, the mix of freedom and uncertainty, transitioning to civilian life. The lyrics get specific — "Into a DD-214 and a box of plaques on walls" — because personal tracks on Majik's are personal for real, not performatively. The rock production matches the energy of the confession. It hits triumphant and bittersweet, 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] One piece of paper, that's all it comes down to DD-214, the document that unwound you From the tightest knot the government can tie Years of service summarized in block and line Name: Stransky. Branch: Navy. Character: Honorable But the things between those boxes aren't recordable The midwatches, the shipmates, the salt-crusted boots The person that you were before they gave you the suits Now they're taking them back, here's your discharge, you're free But free is a funny word when the Navy's all you've been to be [chorus] DD-214, my ticket out, my ticket home DD-214, now I walk this world alone No more orders, no more quarters, no more standing by DD-214, hello civilian life It's a freedom that feels heavy It's a victory that cuts DD-214, I gave enough [verse 2] First morning as a civilian, alarm goes off at five Nobody's making me get up but I'm still alive With the habits of a sailor carved into my spine I make the bed with hospital corners every time Go to buy a coffee, no one calls me by my rate Just another dude in line, and honestly it's great But also kind of lonely when the brotherhood dissolves Into a DD-214 and a box of plaques on walls They say thank you for your service at the hardware store I nod and grab my lumber, what's the thank you for The years I'd do again? The years I can't get back? Both live on this paper and that's a fact [chorus] DD-214, my ticket out, my ticket home DD-214, now I walk this world alone No more orders, no more quarters, no more standing by DD-214, hello civilian life It's a freedom that feels heavy It's a victory that cuts DD-214, I gave enough [bridge] They don't prepare you for the quiet For the absence of the mission For the moment when your purpose needs a new definition But I took the discipline, took the grit Took everything the Navy gave and I rebuilt with it From sailor to civilian to whatever comes next DD-214 was the end but also the first step [verse 3] Now I keep it in a fireproof safe with the important things Birth certificate, passport, and my dog tags on a string Some nights I pull it out and read the boxes one by one Remembering the kid who raised his hand under the gun He didn't know what he was signing up for, not really But he came out the other side, a little worn but willing To take this discipline and build an empire from the sand OG Unicorn was forged by a military hand So here's to every veteran holding that same sheet We traded years for freedom and we landed on our feet DD-214, framed or folded, stained or clean It's the most important paper that you've ever seen [chorus] DD-214, my ticket out, my ticket home DD-214, but I never walk alone No more orders, no more quarters, no more standing by DD-214, hello to my life It's a freedom that I've earned now It's a victory that's mine DD-214, I served my time [outro] Honorably discharged Permanently changed DD-214 The end of one mission The beginning of everything