The Only Exception
Paramore搀 Lyrics
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I saw my daddy cry
And curse at the wind
He broke his own heart
And I watched
As he tried to reassemble it
And my momma swore
And that was the day that I promised
I'd never sing of love
If it does not exist, but darlin'
You are, the only exception
You are, the only exception
You are, the only exception
You are, the only exception
Maybe I know, somewhere
Deep in my soul
That love never lasts
And we've got to find other ways
To make it alone
But keep a straight face
And I've always lived like this
Keeping a comfortable, distance
And up until now
I had sworn to myself that I'm content
With loneliness
Because none of it was ever worth the risk
But, you are, the only exception
You are, the only exception
You are, the only exception
You are, the only exception
I've got a tight grip on reality
But I can't let go of what's in front of me here
I know your leaving in the morning, when you wake up
Leave me with some kind of proof it's not a dream, oh
You are, the only exception
You are, the only exception
You are, the only exception
You are, the only exception
You are, the only exception
You are, the only exception
You are, the only exception
You are, the only exception
And I'm on my way to believing
Oh, and I'm on my way to believing.
The song "The Only Exception" by Paramore is a ballad about love and vulnerability. The first verse sets up the backstory: when the singer was a child, they witnessed their father's heartbreak and their mother's determination not to forget it. This led the singer to swear that they would never sing of love unless they found an exception to the rule that it does not exist. The chorus then introduces the exception: the person the singer is singing to is the only exception to the rule. However, the singer is still guarded and aware that love doesn't always last, admitting that they've always kept a "comfortable distance" from relationships.
The second verse repeats the theme of distance, with the singer acknowledging that they've always believed they had to find other ways to be happy because love doesn't last. However, when faced with the exception, they find themselves unable to maintain their distance and their grip on reality. They want proof that the love they're feeling is real and not just a dream. The song ends with the singer acknowledging that they're gradually starting to believe in love again.
Overall, "The Only Exception" is a tender exploration of vulnerability, trust, and love. Through its lyrics, it touches on how our past experiences shape our expectations for the future, and how the right person can challenge those expectations and open our hearts once again.
Line by Line Meaning
When I was younger
During my youth
I saw my daddy cry
I witnessed my father shed tears
And curse at the wind
And express his anger to no one in particular
He broke his own heart
He shattered his emotional wellbeing
And I watched
And I observed
As he tried to reassemble it
As he attempted to piece it back together
And my momma swore
And my mother declared
That she would never let herself forget
That she would never forgive
And that was the day that I promised
That was the moment I made a pledge
I'd never sing of love
I'd never sing about love
If it does not exist, but darlin'
Unless it truly exists, my dear
You are, the only exception
But you, my love, defy my promise
Maybe I know, somewhere
Perhaps subconsciously, I understand
Deep in my soul
In the depths of my being
That love never lasts
That love is never everlasting
And we've got to find other ways
And we must seek alternate methods
To make it alone
To face life's trials on our own
But keep a straight face
Regardless, maintain composure
And I've always lived like this
I've always lived in this manner
Keeping a comfortable, distance
Maintaining a safe distance
And up until now
Until this point
I had sworn to myself that I'm content
I promised myself that I was satisfied
With loneliness
With being alone
Because none of it was ever worth the risk
Because the risk never seemed worth it
But, you are, the only exception
However, you are the glorious exception
I've got a tight grip on reality
I'm firmly grounded in reality
But I can't let go of what's in front of me here
But I cannot release what is before me
I know your leaving in the morning, when you wake up
I know you will depart come morning
Leave me with some kind of proof it's not a dream, oh
Give me evidence that this is not a fantasy, oh
And I'm on my way to believing
And I am gradually starting to believe
Oh, and I'm on my way to believing.
Oh, yes, I am on my way to believing.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HAYLEY WILLIAMS, HAYLEY NICHOLE WILLIAMS, JOSH FARRO, JOSHUA NEIL FARRO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind