Passing the Torch

This track comes from leadership earned through service, failures, and rebuilding — the long game of legacy. It tackles Mentoring the next generation of builders and unconventional thinkers, passing down what you've learned. The lyrics get specific — "From the first time you tried and the world said no" — because personal tracks on Majik's are personal for real, not performatively. The soul production matches the energy of the confession. It hits warm and encouraging, 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] Hey young sailor, young coder, young whoever you are Pulling up a chair with a question and a scar From the first time you tried and the world said no Let me tell you something that I wish someone told me long ago The path you're on doesn't need to make sense to them The unconventional route is not a problem, it's a gem They'll say you need credentials, need a pedigree, a stamp I built an empire from a laptop and a lamp So sit down, listen close, and take what works for you Leave the rest, that's all a mentor's supposed to do [chorus] I'm passing the torch to the ones who come next The Navy kids, the coders, the beautifully perplexed Take the flame, take the fire, take the lessons hard-won I'm passing the torch, your race has just begun And you'll run faster than I ever could Because I cleared the path through the wood Passing the torch, carry it far You were always the real star [verse 2] I didn't have a mentor, had to Google my way through Stack Overflow at midnight was my guru But I promised if I ever made it to the other side I'd hold the door and show the view from the divide Between the wanting and the having, between the dream and done So here I am, lesson one: Do more with less, that's not just a motto on a wall It's the most practical advice for anyone who's small Competing with the giants, with the funded, with the blessed Your constraints are your advantage, not your test [chorus] I'm passing the torch to the ones who come next The Navy kids, the coders, the beautifully perplexed Take the flame, take the fire, take the lessons hard-won I'm passing the torch, your race has just begun And you'll run faster than I ever could Because I cleared the path through the wood Passing the torch, carry it far You were always the real star [bridge] Lesson two: ship it, don't wait for perfect Lesson three: the grind is always worth it Lesson four: find your Folly Beach, your quiet place Lesson five: the imposter syndrome's lying to your face Lesson six: the people matter more than products Lesson seven: there is no lesson seven Just keep going, keep building, keep showing up The torch is lit, now fill your cup [verse 3] And when you've built your thing and the torch feels heavy Find the next kid at the keyboard who's not ready But willing, always willing, that's the sign The same sign I showed up with, the same shine In the eyes of someone who knows they're meant for more Hand them the flame and tell them what it's for Not for glory, not for ego, not for fame But for the kid who comes after you with the same Hunger, the same doubt, the same five AM alarm Passing the torch keeps the whole chain warm From sailor to coder to founder to friend The torch keeps passing, the story doesn't end [chorus] I'm passing the torch to the ones who come next The Navy kids, the coders, the beautifully perplexed Take the flame, take the fire, take the lessons hard-won I'm passing the torch, your race has just begun And you'll run faster than I ever could Because I cleared the path through the wood Passing the torch, carry it far You were always the real star [outro] Take it The flame is yours now Run with it And don't forget to pass it on