It's "not the way you've always been" not "by the way"
I think this is my favorite song off of Save Me San Francisco. To me, it's a song about soul mates. Not just romantically - but two people who are just always meant to be together and friends, whether platonically or not. They just know each other perfectly. Their love for each other is eternal, but not romantically. The pair tried a romance, but it didn't work out, and the singer is telling the other that it's not the end. They will always have each other no matter what. "you can't be mine, not the way you've always been" - it will never be the same relationship, but the relationship is still there.
It's "not the way you've always been" not "by the way" I think this is my favorite song off of Save Me San Francisco. To me, it's a song about soul mates. Not just romantically - but two people who are just always meant to be together and friends, whether platonically or not. They just know each other perfectly. Their love for each other is eternal, but not romantically. The pair tried a romance, but it didn't work out, and the singer is telling the other that it's not the end. They will always have each other no matter what. "you can't be mine, not the way you've always been" - it will never be the same relationship, but the relationship is still there.
just my .02