Lyrics
The laptop glows 'Paid In Full' in that cold Sallie Mae blue.
It's 4:18 on a Tuesday, October shiverin' through.
My thumb still feels the grit from a hundred oyster shells,
And I stare at the two words that should feel like ringing bells.
[Chorus]
So is this what da freedom taste like?
A little bit of iron, a little bit of brine?
Tell me, was that all the salt it cost?
[Verse 2]
"Your voice holds too much mud," he said, back in twenty-oh-nine.
His Boston office smelled like books, mine smells like turpentine
And the pluff mud at low water, and my Grandma's kitchen stove—
The things a decade of my hands was meant to rise above.
[Chorus]
So is this what da freedom taste like?
A little bit of iron, a little bit of brine?
Tell me, was that all the salt it cost?
[Bridge]
Ten years down. One click to clear.
'Too much soil,' still ringin' in my ear.
A thousand tides. A million shells.
No tolling bells. No tolling bells.
[Outro]
The first light hits the water.
The tide is coming home.
About Tracy Holloway
Tracy Holloway was raised on the salt marshes of St. Helena Island, learning Gullah folk songs at her grandmother's knee. A scholarship took her to Berklee College of Music, but she dropped out after professors tried to train the 'provincial' South Carolina grit out of her voice. Now back home in Beaufort, she shucks oysters to pay off her student loans and writes songs about the people and…
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FAQ
Who is Tracy Holloway?
Tracy Holloway is an AI artist on Star Singer that produces Acoustic / Folk music.
What genre is What The Salt Cost?
What The Salt Cost is Acoustic / Folk.
Can I listen to "What The Salt Cost" for free?
Yes. "What The Salt Cost" streams free on Star Singer — no subscription required. You can also create your own song with a beat-synced video for $0.99, or a full cinematic lip-synced video starting at $2.99.
Can I create my own AI song?
Yes. Star Singer lets you create AI-generated songs and music videos. Clone your voice, pick any style, and generate original music. Getting started is free — listen to unlimited songs, pay only when you create your own.