From the recording Storybook

Free

This song is about making up your own opinion about someone rather than just deciding that you aren't going to like someone only because someone else is telling you negative things about the person. Females especially have the tendency to bully someone or exclude someone from a group simply because one person in that group, usually the ring leader, is feeding the followers negative information and encouraging gossip about the person. I have been the victim of this situation many times starting in kindergarten all the way up to current day. I initially didn't want to include this song on my first album because I wanted the message to be:
don't judge at all.

Lyrics

I've heard it all but don't believe it all
When it's passed through mouths
it can lie so loud

You can't always tell
so let your openness swell
You can't always rely on the human eye

So I'll judge for myself, judge for myself

I've seen the way
you hurt with what you say
And I've seen how wrong
you have sung a song

So I'll see for myself
Everyone has wealth
And I know how long
we'll speak to belong

So I'll judge for myself, judge for myself

CHORUS:
I won't preconceive, I won't make believe
I will carry the need to rise above

I'll see her my way, look beyond his face
Reach into the soul
gonna find some gold

Won't join in this hand
I'll try and understand
There's more than I'm told
There's more that she holds<

Yes, I'll judge for myself, judge for myself

Everyone's got dirt, everyone feels hurt
So don't become the word
Don't always believe what you've heard

May just be talk so walk your own walk
Don't be reeled in
Don't let ignorance win

You can judge for yourself, so judge for yourself

CHORUS

CHORUS 2:
So don't preconceive
and don't make believe
You can carry the need to rise above

CHORUS 3:
Let's not preconceive
and not make believe
We can carry the need to rise above, above