New Area Code

This track comes from Aaron's startup DNA — the philosophy that convention is just a suggestion. It tackles Moving to the 843 area code, making Charleston home, the excitement and terror of a new place. The lyrics get specific — "I left everything I knew for a place I've never been" — because personal tracks on Majik's are personal for real, not performatively. The electronic production matches the energy of the confession. It hits excited and fresh, 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] New number who dis, eight-four-three on the caller ID Traded in the old zip code for a palmetto tree GPS says you've arrived but I'm just getting started Unloading boxes in a town where the moss is heavy-hearted Dripping from the oaks like the sweat on my neck Humidity's a hundred but I haven't broken yet Landlord hands the keys, says welcome to the Lowcountry I say thank you, close the door, and wonder what just found me [chorus] New area code, new area code Eight-four-three, that's the life I chose New area code, different kind of road Salt air in my lungs, sand between my toes I left everything I knew for a place I've never been New area code, time to begin again [verse 2] First week I got lost on every one-way street Ended up on King Street when I meant to find the beach But getting lost in Charleston's not the worst thing in the world Every wrong turn's a restaurant, every corner's a pearl Learned to say hey y'all without it sounding forced Learned that sweet tea is a religion, not a choice of course Navy taught me to adapt to any port of call But this port's got something different, this one feels like home, y'all [chorus] New area code, new area code Eight-four-three, that's the life I chose New area code, different kind of road Salt air in my lungs, sand between my toes I left everything I knew for a place I've never been New area code, time to begin again [bridge] Some people plant roots where they're born Some people transplant and transform I'm a palmetto now, bent but never broken Eight-four-three is more than numbers spoken It's the marsh at golden hour It's the shrimp boats and the power Of a place that takes you in and says You're one of ours now [verse 3] Two years later and the accent's creeping in Saying fixin' to and might could with a grin Got my spot at the beach bar, got my name at the coffee shop Got a life in eight-four-three that I'm never gonna swap Sometimes home's not where you start It's where you choose to restart your heart And mine beats Lowcountry now, that's just the truth New area code, same kid, better proof [chorus] New area code, new area code Eight-four-three, that's the life I chose New area code, different kind of road Salt air in my lungs, sand between my toes I left everything I knew for a place that took me in New area code, I'm home again [outro] Eight-four-three That's home now That's me