Cast the First Stone
We Came as Romans Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'll cast the first stone
Just to take the attention away from me
Anything to protect my reputation
Because I feel like that's all I have, all I know

What do I look like in their eyes?
Is it something desirable?
Or am I nothing?

What do I look like in their eyes?
What do I look like in their eyes?

I'll cast the first stone
Like I am the last one to blame
Just to shift their condemning eyes away
I'll cast the first stone
Like I am the last one to blame
Just to break their denouncing gaze

Why should I wait to hear their verdict?
Why do I care about who they think I should be?
Why should I wait to hear their verdict?
Why do I care about who they think I should be?

I have been bending over backwards for every reason but the right one
I have placed value on things that don't deserve it

Now what do I look like to those who matter?
Why did I waste all this time on the temporary?
It's too easy to take the wrong things to heart
Especially from those who seem to have misplaced their own

I won't say that I'll never cast another stone
Or that I am the last one to blame
But I want to stop living like anyone else's opinion
Of who I should be is a regulation in my life

I shouldn't forget there's a difference
Between living for other's approval and just living for others

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Cast the First Stone" by We Came As Romans speak to the desire for social validation and the lengths that we may go to in order to protect our reputation. The opening lines, "I'll cast the first stone / Just to take the attention away from me," reveal the fear of judgment and the need to deflect it onto someone or something else. The singer is willing to cast the first stone, not because they believe they are blameless, but to shift the focus away from themselves.


The chorus questions the singer's worth in the eyes of others, pondering whether they are seen as desirable or nothing. This underlying anxiety about how others perceive them drives their behavior, as they admit to placing value on things that "don't deserve it." Ultimately, the song arrives at a realization that living for other's approval is not the way to live at all. The lines, "I won't say that I'll never cast another stone / Or that I am the last one to blame / But I want to stop living like anyone else's opinion / Of who I should be is a regulation in my life," suggest a desire to break free from the constraints of social expectation and embrace a more authentic way of living.


Overall, "Cast the First Stone" exposes the deeply ingrained human desire for validation and the lengths that we may go to in order to protect our reputation. It challenges us to question our own motives and to recognize the difference between living for other's approval and living for others.


Line by Line Meaning

I'll cast the first stone
I'll be the first to make a negative judgement or accusation


Just to take the attention away from me
I'll divert the focus from myself


Anything to protect my reputation
I'll do anything to maintain a favorable public image


Because I feel like that's all I have, all I know
My reputation is my only identity


What do I look like in their eyes?
How am I perceived by others?


Is it something desirable?
Do they see me positively?


Or am I nothing?
Do they see me as insignificant?


Why should I wait to hear their verdict?
Why should I care about their opinion?


Why do I care about who they think I should be?
Why do their expectations matter?


I have been bending over backwards for every reason but the right one
I've been sacrificing for the wrong reasons


I have placed value on things that don't deserve it
I've given importance to things that aren't meaningful


Now what do I look like to those who matter?
How am I seen by those who are important to me?


Why did I waste all this time on the temporary?
Why did I focus on fleeting things?


It's too easy to take the wrong things to heart
It's easy to internalize negative criticism


Especially from those who seem to have misplaced their own
Especially from those who have their own issues


I won't say that I'll never cast another stone
I can't guarantee I won't be judgemental again


Or that I am the last one to blame
I may still make mistakes and be at fault


But I want to stop living like anyone else's opinion
I want to stop living for others' approval


Of who I should be is a regulation in my life
Of others' expectations dictate how I live


I shouldn't forget there's a difference
I should remember there's a distinction


Between living for other's approval and just living for others
Between seeking validation and prioritizing kindness towards others




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ANDREW GLASS, DAVID STEPHENS, ERIC CHOI, JOSHUA MOORE, KYLE PAVONE, LOU COTTON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@monsterenergy07

I'll cast the first stone
I'll cast the first stone
Just to take the attention away from me
Anything to protect my reputation
Because I feel like that's all I have right now
What do I look like in their eyes?
Is it something desirable?
Or am I nothing?
What do I look like in their eyes?
What do I look like in their eyes?
I'll cast the first stone
Like I am the last one to blame
Just to shift their condemning eyes away
I'll cast the first stone
Like I am the last one to blame
Just to break their denouncing gaze
Why should I wait?
Why do I care?
Why should I wait?
Why do I care?
Why should I wait to hear their verdict?
Why do I care about who they think I should be?
Why should I wait to hear their verdict?
Why do I care about who they think I should be?
I have been bending over backwards for every reason but the right one
I have placed value on things that don't deserve it
Now what do I look like to those who matter?
Why did I waste all this time on the temporary? (Temporary)
It's too easy to take the wrong things to heart
Especially from those who seem to have misplaced their own
Their own
I won't say that I'll never cast another stone
Or that I am the last one to blame (the last one to blame)
But I want to stop living like anyone else's opinion
Of who I should be is a regulation in my life
I shouldn't forget there's a difference
There's a difference between living for other's approval
And just living for others



All comments from YouTube:

@_waiting_for_orion_9826

kyle, your voice was so powerful. hope you’re still singing with those angels up there 💖 RIP

@karnagefails333

The shitty thing about that is that he just tried to bear too much weight for people he cared about, and he couldn't bear their sins, but I'm sure a guy like that was a good friend that could make you feel better just by talking to you. Theres not many people like that.

@DevinLovesit13

This entire album is amazing, not only does We Came As Romans play beautiful music, but they also carry the most beautiful meanings and purposes behind their songs. Anyone who couldn't relate to We Came As Romans, couldn't relate to life.

@connora3145

Such a banger! Rest in peace Kyle

@karsonpayne6789

🙏rest in peace kyle, you were such an insparation to so many of us🙏

@dreamer597

this song is about rising above worrying about the judgement of others so hey let's all insult eachother on here and start fights! will you guys shut up and stop bringing everybody down? getting past the judgement does NOT mean you bring others down to do it.

@karnagefails333

Still listening in 2018. There is such a good message with this music. It's heavy as fuck and positive. Gives me hope.

@michaelbanks4598

This song is super important to me as well. i was having ahard time decyphering right from wrong and finding the right the right crowd. Then i started listening to this music. So inspirational!

@usarmy624

This is an amazing song. I liked other WCAR songs more but I had to warm up to this one. I would sing the song without realizing its meaning. But when I first understood it I understood that it is lyrically amazing, and the last lyric "I shouldn't forget there's a difference, Between living for other's approval and just living for others" Makes the entire song just beyond amazing.

@SamaraRae

Josh is a musical genius.

More Comments