Vincent Mason’s debut album, There I Go, is country storytelling at its best; honest, detailed, and full of heart. Across 14 tracks, Mason takes listeners through the highs and lows of love, life on the road, and learning to let go.
The opener, “There I Go,” sets the pace with an upbeat drive and a line that sums up the whole record: “Always been the kind to sit still.” It’s about finding yourself in motion, playing shows, chasing dreams, and figuring it out one “one-night town at a time.”
“Little Miss” keeps that energy going, a catchy tune about curiosity and risk. He knows this girl might “leave a hole in my chest,” but still wants “something to miss.” “Sink or Swim” and “Damned If I Do” hit harder, both about trying (and failing) to outrun heartbreak. The latter, already paired with a powerful music video, nails the feeling of not being able to move on: “Damned if I do and damned if I don’t get over you, so I guess I won’t.”
On “Old Flame,” Mason leans into nostalgia with a line as smooth as the song itself, “Lighting up an old smoke, lighting up an old flame.” “She Loves Leaving” flips the tone, with an upbeat melody about a woman who’ll always be “the one that got away.”
Then comes one of the album’s strongest moments: “Sit With It.” Mason doesn’t sugarcoat heartbreak: “Let it kill you for a while till you find out how to live with it.” It’s a song about patience, pain, and finding peace in the middle of both.
The back half of the album shows his range. “Painkiller” is fun and flirtatious, while “American Spirit” slows down and paints a cinematic picture of connection over cigarettes and conversation. “Wishing that ember would never burn out,” he sings, and you can almost see the smoke curling in the air.
“Hell Is a Dance Floor” finds him standing in a bar watching someone he loves fall for somebody else. The song was an important breakout moment for the rising star, amassing over 175 million streams. “Wish You Well” hides hurt behind humor, “Shots ain’t all I could use three of well.” It’s the kind of song you laugh at until you really listen.
By “Days Are Numbered,” Mason is back on the road, honest about the grind and gratitude of chasing a dream: “Wouldn’t trade this life, but the nights are long and my days are numbered.” He closes the album with “Good Run (Worktape),” a raw, one-take goodbye that feels like a voice memo you weren’t supposed to hear, the perfect closing note to a record built on real emotion. There I Go doesn’t just sound like a debut record; it sounds like a songwriter who’s lived these stories and is finally ready to tell them. Mason’s voice is steady, his pen sharp, and his honesty refreshing. This record proves he’s got staying power, not because he’s trying to be anyone else, but because he’s fully himself.
