 " The Only Exception " was released as the third single from the band 's 2009 studio album Brand New Eyes in February 2010 . It was noticed by music critics that , Paramore , who usually write and record darker material , mainly of the alternative genre , had , musically , gone in a different direction with " The Only Exception " . Rolling Stone described the song as " a subtle , Radiohead @-@ esque ballad . " The song 's lyrics pertain to the protagonist not believing that love exists and trying to live without it , mainly to avoid rejection , but eventually realizing that it does exist , describing the person as being their " only exception " . Many fans believe that the song was written as an ode to Chad Gilbert from New Found Glory . Incidentally , Williams has declined to comment directly on the issue , merely saying , " Read a couple blogs , and you 'll figure it out . " 
