'Damned If I Do' by Vincent Mason - Lyrics & Meaning

Since the release of his breakout single, 'Hell is a Dance Floor,' in February of 2024, Vincent Mason has been on the cutting edge of the next generation of country hitmakers.

Spending 2024 dropping one infectious tune after another, culminating to become his debut EP, Can't Just Be Me, as well as on the road cutting his teeth along rip roaring entertainer Gavin Adcock, the Georgia native has positioned himself on the frontlines in the battle for the King of Sad Boy Country title.

While this year will hopefully result in his highly-anticipated full-length debut, Mason has been busy on his own headlining trek with supporting slots for the likes of Luke Bryan, Jordan Davis, Riley Green and Parker McCollum on tap for the back half of 2025. Along the way, though, the burgeoning singer-songwriter has also been treating fans to one honkytonk heartbreak hit after another, such as the cozy 'Waitin' on You to Wear Off,' whiskey soaked 'Wish You Well' and the breezy 'Painkiller.'

Now, Mason adds another entry into his sad boy repertoire with 'Damned If I Do,' bringing us right into the middle of the heartbreak that he can't quite seem to kick.

Written alongside Jacob Hackworth & Lauren Hungate, Mason notches both writing and producing credits on 'Damned If I Do,' also co-produced by Jake Gear and Brett Truitt.

With a dark and moody electric guitar at the heart of the song from start to finish, the newest Mason offering almost sounds like it could've been included on Daughtry's debut record, laced with a rock feel that's practically begging to be played on stages all across the country.

"The sun’s coming out,
The sky’s still blue
And I ain’t left the house
‘Cause what’s the use

You’re in my high, you’re in my drink
You’re right there when I’m sober
You ain’t here, but you won’t leave
You’re everything I ain’t over"

We find our narrator coming into a new beautiful day, but even though the sun is shining and there's hope in the air, he just can't seem to meet the day... or leave the house.

Quickly understanding that he's stuck in the aftermath of a heartbreak, he explains that he can't quite escape his ex, but finds her in everything he does. Needless to say, he's nowhere near over her.

"Damn right
I’m a damn mess
In the same damn spot as the night you left

Hall of fame heartbreak
Damn if you ain’t the best
Ripped the damn thing
Right out my chest

Don’t know how I’m supposed to cut you loose
Don’t know how I’m gonna let you go
I’m dammed if I do
Damned if I don’t
Get over you so I guess I won’t"

Unable to move on from that night when she decided to call it quits, he likens her to be the best in her field when it comes to breaking a heart, noting that she practically ripped his heart out of his chest without a second thought.

Our narrator is caught at a crossroads: either officially let her go and moved on or keep holding on to her memory in hopes that she comes back.

Regardless of which decision he makes, he sees pros and cons. Either way he'll be left hurt and broken up, so why bother getting over her at all?

"One hell of a pill
For me to swallow
Somebody somewhere
Has got a tough act to follow

At rocking my world, or burning it down
Fell too far to fix it now"

Trying to come to terms with everything that happened and being back in the single life, he starts to consider the type of person who might come along next.

Whoever they are, they've got a tall task ahead of them as they will subconsciously or not be compared to this girl who just shattered him entirely.

"Damn right
I’m a damn mess
In the same damn spot as the night you left

Hall of fame heartbreak
Damn if you ain’t the best
Ripped the damn thing
Right out my chest

Don’t know how I’m supposed to cut you loose
Don’t know how I’m gonna let you go
I’m dammed if I do
Damned if I don’t
Get over you so I guess I won’t"

Still in his nascency in terms of his country music career, Mason has been spending the last few years truly honing his craft and sound, which draws much inspiration from the likes of Parker McCollum and John Mayer.

When it came to making 'Damned If I Do,' though, the Georgia native was itching for something a little different to what we've heard from him so far.

“Coming off of my first year of touring, I wanted something different musically that I could look forward to playing every night, shares Mason. “I wrote it with Lauren Hungate and Jacob Hackworth, two of my favorite writers in town. This song is one of my favorite moments on the new record, and I’m sure it will be one of my favorites on the road."

The sun’s coming out,
The sky’s still blue
And I ain’t left the house
‘Cause what’s the use

You’re in my high, you’re in my drink
You’re right there when I’m sober
You ain’t here, but you won’t leave
You’re everything I ain’t over

Damn right
I’m a damn mess
In the same damn spot as the night you left

Hall of fame heartbreak
Damn if you ain’t the best
Ripped the damn thing
Right out my chest

Don’t know how I’m supposed to cut you loose
Don’t know how I’m gonna let you go
I’m dammed if I do
Damned if I don’t
Get over you so I guess I won’t

One hell of a pill
For me to swallow
Somebody somewhere
Has got a tough act to follow

At rocking my world, or burning it down
Fell too far to fix it now

Damn right
I’m a damn mess
In the same damn spot as the night you left

Hall of fame heartbreak
Damn if you ain’t the best
Ripped the damn thing
Right out my chest

Don’t know how I’m supposed to cut you loose
Don’t know how I’m gonna let you go
I’m dammed if I do
Damned if I don’t
Get over you so I guess I won’t

Damn right
I’m a damn mess
This is‘bout as good as it’s gonna get

Hall of fame heartbreak
Damn if you ain’t the best
Ripped the damn thing
Right out my chest

Don’t know how I’m supposed to cut you loose
Don’t know how I’m gonna let you go
I’m dammed if I do
Damned if I don’t
Get over you so I guess I won’t

The sun’s coming out,
The sky’s still blue

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