Of Monsters And Men – Television Love. Lyrics Meaning: A Love Story Made for the Small Screen

Ever felt like you’re the main character in a sweeping romance, but the other person didn’t get the script? You’ve got the soundtrack playing in your head, you’re hitting all your emotional cues, but they’re just… watching. It’s a strange, lonely feeling, like you’re performing a one-person show for an audience of one who might have already changed the channel. You put on a brave face, walk with a confident strut, but inside, you’re practically screaming for a connection that isn’t there.

If that feeling hits a little too close to home, then the Icelandic band Of Monsters And Men have crafted the perfect, bittersweet anthem for you. Their song “Television Love” sounds deceptively upbeat, with a driving rhythm that makes you want to tap your feet. But beneath that catchy surface lies a deeply relatable story about a one-sided, disconnected kind of affection. Let’s dive in and de the static behind this incredible track.

Decoding the Static in “Television Love” by Of Monsters And Men

The song kicks off with a scene that feels straight out of an indie movie. The lyrics paint a picture of someone trying so hard to hold it together, even as they’re falling apart. It’s a performance of strength for an audience that might not even be paying attention.

• Of Monsters And Men – Television Love : A Love Story Made for the Small Screen
• Of Monsters And Men – Ordinary Creature : Finding Comfort in Simple Connection

Standing in the parking lot
Meet me in the corner shop
I’m not getting over the pain
Someone give me Novocaine

Right away, we’re hit with this raw confession. The narrator is in pain, and they’re looking for something to numb it, like a shot of Novocaine from the dentist. They are going through the motions of life—walking to their favorite song, trying to look strong—but it’s all a facade. You can almost see them, headphones on, trying to project an aura of “I’m totally fine,” while internally, things are a mess. This is the brave face we all put on sometimes.

A Sea of Love (And the Need to Hide)

Then comes the chorus, and it’s one of the most vivid descriptions of overwhelming, unrequited love I’ve ever heard. It’s not a gentle stream; it’s a deluge.

I’m bleeding love all over the place
A sea of love
Hide my face

Wow. Just picture that for a second. “Bleeding love” suggests something involuntary, messy, and maybe even a little bit embarrassing. It’s a love so powerful it can’t be contained, spilling out everywhere. And yet, what’s the immediate reaction? To hide. There’s a sense of shame or vulnerability in feeling so much. It’s that awful mix of wanting to be seen and understood, but also being terrified of your intense emotions being exposed and maybe even rejected.

The One-Sided Phone Call: What “Television Love” Really Means

The song continues to build on this feeling of observation versus participation. The narrator is active—they’re walking, feeling, slipping—but the object of their affection is passive. The real heart of the song’s meaning, however, clicks into place in the bridge. This is where the term “Television Love” is finally explained, and it’s a gut punch.

Drove up to your house
And your lights went out
Television love
Oh your call rang out
Another second now

This is it. This is the core of the heartbreak. The narrator makes a move, a grand gesture of driving to their person’s house, only to be met with darkness. The lights going out is such a powerful, cinematic symbol of being shut out. The connection is severed before it can even begin. The “conversation drought” further emphasizes this total lack of communication. There’s nothing to say because the other person isn’t engaging.

So, what exactly is “Television Love”? It’s a relationship that you watch, rather than participate in. It’s there, it’s on, it makes noise in the background of your life, but you’re not a part of the story. You’re just a viewer on the couch, watching someone else’s life unfold, and they’re completely unaware of the “sea of love” you’re drowning in. You’re close enough to see the screen, but you can’t interact with what’s on it. It’s a love that’s broadcasted but never received.

The song closes with a haunting, almost desperate question:

Television love
What if we don’t connect the head now
What if we just don’t think at all now

Here, the narrator seems to be contemplating giving in to the superficiality. Maybe it’s easier to just exist in this state, to not think about the lack of a real “head” connection. It’s the temptation to stop trying, to stop feeling the pain of the disconnect, and to just let the television hum in the background. It’s a sad, resigned acceptance of a love that will only ever be on-screen.

Ultimately, “Television Love” is a brilliant commentary on modern relationships and unrequited feelings. The song’s hidden message is a powerful reminder to recognize when you’re just a spectator in someone else’s life. It encourages us to seek out connections that are mutual, responsive, and real—not just something that flickers on a screen in a dark room. It’s a call to find a love where the lights stay on when you arrive.

But hey, that’s just my take on this beautiful, layered song. Music is so personal, and the meaning can shift from person to person. What does “Television Love” mean to you? Do you get a different feeling from the lyrics? I’d love to hear your thoughts!