"Brick By Boring Brick" | "The Only Exception" | "Careful" |
"The Only Exception" is the sixth track and third single off of the album brand new eyes.
Background[]
"I’ve never written lyrics like this before. The first verse is about where I think the fear to be open or vulnerable started. Ever since the first story in Kerrang!, everyone has known about my family issues and domestic whatever, it’s something that’s kinda stayed with me and I’ve learned from. I played this song to my mom and there were tears. It was kind of embarrassing.This is the first love song I’ve ever written. And even if I’ve tried in the past, this is the first one that I’m really proud of. I like that I was able to express the fact that I have always been really afraid of love – and I still am at times – but the excitement and the hope that it exists is still very evident in the lyrics. So it’s not like I’m a total cynic! Love is a good thing, kids." - Hayley Williams
Music Video[]
The music video for 'The Only Exception' is about how a girl who was played by Hayley Williams has had tragic and unconnected relationships her entire life. At first, she had left her boyfriend to move on. Some examples of how she had bad relationships were with her father, her mother, her dates, and her ideas at church. Through the end of the video, she had realized that her only strong relationship was with her boyfriend, She ends up coming back as the boyfriend did not wake up from his sleep at the beginning of the video.
Aaron Schnobrich plays Hayley's boyfriend. He would later go on to be the cameraman for the "Playing God" video.
Hayley's father appears in the video as himself.
Audio[]
Lyrics[]
When I was younger 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
That she would never let herself forget
And that was the day that I promised
I'd never sing of love if it does not exist
But darling,
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
Or keep a straight face
And I've always lived like this
Keeping a comfortable distance
And up until now I've sworn to myself
That I'm content with loneliness
Because none of it was ever worth the risk
Well 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
I've got a tight grip on reality
But I can't let go of what's in front of me here
I know you're leaving in the morning
When you wake up
Leave me with some kind of proof it's not a dream
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
Lawsuit[]
In October 2010 the band 'Tenspoke Indies' claimed that the song "The Only Exception" stole from their song "Starlighter" and that Fueled By Ramen had stolen a copy of their demo in 2006 which is how Paramore stole their song.
In March 2012, the case was dropped in favor of Paramore and that Tenspoke Indies claim was frivolous.
Chart Performance[]
Chart (2010-11) |
Peak Position |
Year-End Chart (2010) |
---|---|---|
Australia | 17 | 75 |
Brazil | 32 | |
Canada | 25 | |
European Hot 100 | 72 | |
Ireland | 28 | |
New Zealand |
13 |
|
UK Singles | 31 | |
UK Rock | 1 | |
US Billboard Hot 100 | 24 | 93 |
US Billboard Pop Songs | 12 | |
US Billboard Adult Pop Songs | 9 | |
US Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs | 28 |
Trivia[]
- A locket was released in Paramore.net's shop according to this song. It is called "The Only Exception Locket".
- The song was featured as a downloadable song on Rock Band 3 and can be transferred over to Rock Band 4.
Streaming[]
Brand New Eyes
"Turn It Off" | "The Only Exception" | "Feeling Sorry" |
The Only Exception EP
- | "The Only Exception" | "The Only Exception (Acoustic)" |
Paramore
"Decode (Live)" | "The Only Exception" | "Brick By Boring Brick (Live)" |
Alive In Europe
"Ain't It Fun" | "The Only Exception" | "In The Mourning" |
Brand New Eyes | |
---|---|
Songs | Careful • Ignorance • Playing God • Brick By Boring Brick • Turn It Off • The Only Exception • Feeling Sorry • Looking Up • Where the Lines Overlap • Misguided Ghosts • All I Wanted |
Bonus Tracks | Decode • Ignorance (Acoustic Version) • Where the Lines Overlap (Acoustic Version) • Brick By Boring Brick (Acoustic Version) • Turn It Off (Acoustic) |
Members | Hayley Williams • Josh Farro • Taylor York • Jeremy Davis • Zac Farro |
The Only Exception EP | |
---|---|
Songs | The Only Exception • The Only Exception (Acoustic Version) |
Members | Hayley Williams • Josh Farro • Taylor York • Jeremy Davis • Zac Farro |
Paramore | |
---|---|
Songs | Fast In My Car • Now • Grow Up • Daydreaming • Interlude: Moving On • Ain't It Fun • Part II • Last Hope • Still Into You • Anklebiters • Interlude: Holiday • Proof • Hate to See Your Heart Break • (One of Those) Crazy Girls • Interlude: I'm Not Angry Anymore • Be Alone • Future |
Bonus Tracks | Escape Route • Native Tongue • Tell Me It's Okay • Decode • The Only Exception • Brick By Boring Brick • Let the Flames Begin |
Members | Hayley Williams • Jeremy Davis • Taylor York |
Alive In Europe | |
---|---|
Songs | Fast In My Car • That's What You Get • Decode • Ignorance • Now • Daydreaming • When It Rains • Last Hope • Interlude: Holiday • Crushcrushcrush • Ain't It Fun • The Only Exception • In the Mourning • Pressure • Misery Business • Still Into You |
Members | Hayley Williams • Taylor York • Jeremy Davis |