The Only Exception Lyrics Meaning

The first two verses explain the traumatic experience of her parents splitting up.

The second two verses explain her loss aversion. These are basically the excuses she makes for choosing to be alone.

“Maybe I know somewhere deep in my soul that love never lasts.” (She’s justifying her fear of loss by claiming she knows in her soul that falling in love only leads to heartache; it’s not merely a feeling or an assumption, she knows for sure it is true)

“And we've got to find other ways to make it alone, but keep a straight face.” (She’s all but admitting she is lonely, that her fear of loss and heartache is taking a toll on her, she hides her loneliness by pretending to be happy on her own)

“And I've always lived like this, keeping a comfortable distance.” (She has always been on her own, she sees no reason to change; she can’t control the outcome of falling in love, keeping her guard up allows her to avoid inevitable heartache)

“And up until now I had sworn to myself that I'm content with loneliness.” (She concedes that she has been fooling herself, telling herself she’s content on her own, but the case she has made against love is starting to crumble; indeed, she is overwhelmed with loneliness)

Despite her loss aversion and her fear of heartache, the last two verses explain how she fantasizes about someone who dreams of her, who is searching for her. Perhaps, a person who will change her mind, show her the beauty of love and save her from her self-imposed isolation.

“I've got a tight grip on reality, but I can't let go of what's in front of me here.” (She knows she is right about love, that it never lasts, but she can’t keep ignoring her dreams of connecting with someone, of falling in love; what is in front of her is this fantasy, this love she’s imagining)

“I know you’re leaving in the morning when you wake up. Leave me with some kind of proof it's not a dream.” (He dreams of her when he sleeps, just as she sees him in her own dreams, but he leaves her when he wakes up and she finds herself alone in her dreams, just as she is alone when she is awake; she can’t pretend she is happy on her own any longer, she wants this dream, this love, to be real, for this person she sees in her dreams to be with her when she wakes up)

“I’m on my way to believing.” (Her longing for a connection, for love, will soon overcome her fear and she will allow herself to be vulnerable, to find real love and escape her loneliness)