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 — "DD-214, the beginning of a different line" — because personal tracks on Majik's are personal for real, not performatively. The boom bap production matches the energy of the confession. It hits triumphant and transitional, 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] Paper in my hand, DD-two-fourteen Honorably discharged from the naval machine Standing at the gate with a seabag and a plan Well, half a plan, I'm figuring out who I am Stransky walking into a world that moved without me Everybody's got a degree, a job, a routine I've got night watches and combat readiness drills Trying to convert that to civilian skills [chorus] DD-214, my ticket to the other side DD-214, where the uniform meets the ride New mission, new orders, but this time they're mine DD-214, the beginning of a different line [verse 2] Applied to jobs that don't know what a sailor brings They want experience but not the Navy kind of things So I taught myself to code, built my own lane Turned military discipline to entrepreneurial gain OG Unicorn was born from a veteran's drive Magic Unicorn Tech because I learned to survive Now I'm CTO of Folly Beach, imagine that From swabbing decks to building apps, picture where I'm at [chorus] DD-214, my ticket to the other side DD-214, where the uniform meets the ride New mission, new orders, but this time they're mine DD-214, the beginning of a different line [bridge] To every vet who's holding that paper feeling lost The skills you have are worth more than their cost Lead like you led, build like you built The world needs the foundation that the service instilled [chorus] DD-214, my ticket to the other side DD-214, where the uniform meets the ride New mission, new orders, but this time they're mine DD-214, the beginning of a different line [outro] Honorable discharge, dishonorable waste If you don't use what they gave you So I used every single piece