From the recordings Everything I've Got and The Wrong Lens
I’ve heard “don’t judge a book by its cover” more times than I can count — but honestly, it often feels like no one actually lives by that.
In sports, music, engineering, and even relationships, I’ve been misjudged more times than I care to admit. It’s tough when someone forms a picture of you that isn’t true — especially when that person is in a position of power. Once that image is locked in, it can take years to undo.
I’ve had to fight to prove myself again and again — most recently in my engineering career, where I had to show my value and dedication after someone in leadership made an incorrect assumption.. It’s exhausting, and frankly, no one should have to carry that weight just to be seen clearly.
“The Wrong Lens” is a reminder that you never really know who someone is until you take the time to look deeper. People are more than surface-level impressions — and sometimes, the ones who are most overlooked are the ones with the most to give.
Lyrics
Hello how are you good morning
Their eyes drift back into space
Are you ok how you feeling
They now make a wry face
Kind words hit the surface
But the walls still grow higher
This book read by the cover
They miss what’s inside
Think you know think you know my name
Can’t you see that we’re just the same
Think you know think you know my name
Looking through
Cast a stone cast a stone my way
Words cut deep but the truth won’t change
Cast a stone cast a stone my way
Looking through
Looking through the wrong lens
Hello how’s it going good evening
Kindness and warmth returned with shade
Struck down confused by rejection
My smile now fades away
Kind words hit the surface
But the walls still grow higher
This book read by the cover
They miss what’s inside
Think you know think you know my name
Can’t you see that we’re just the same
Think you know think you know my name
Looking through
Cast a stone cast a stone my way
Words cut deep but the truth won’t change
Cast a stone cast a stone my way
Looking through
Looking through the wrong lens
I’ve learned the way we look
Does not tell who we are
Reading between the lines
Will take you very far
Kind words hit the surface
But the walls still grow higher
This book read by the cover
They miss what’s inside
Think you know think you know my name
Can’t you see that we’re just the same
Think you know think you know my name
Looking through
Cast a stone cast a stone my way
Words cut deep but the truth won’t change
Cast a stone cast a stone my way
Looking through
Looking through the wrong lens
No time for goodbye
Now they’re cleansed
Believe they’ve seen evil
No time for goodbye
They’re convinced
No doubt they’ve dodged trouble