I'm keeping my affair in a book
So this is how a villain feels
They're running seasons in my chest
And I'm only to keep them

Chorus:
Maybe it's not true
Love on the TV
Just like we imagine it
And it's so hard to do
When there's always some distraction
A shiny red balloon
That spoils everything

I'm keeping my affair in a book
Such practical and harmless vice
But I'm feeling it could end up painfully
And the TV should apologize

Chorus:
Maybe it's not true
Love on the TV
Just like we imagine it
And it's so hard to do
When there's always some distraction
A shiny red balloon
That spoils everything

I'm keeping my affair in a book
My long and lonely compromise
How can you live like that my dear
Well we do

love on the TV
Just like we imagine it
And it's so hard to do
When there's always some distraction
A shiny red balloon
That spoils everything

Chorus:
Maybe it's not true
Love on the TV
Just like we imagine it
And it's so hard to do
When there's always some distraction
A shiny red balloon
That spoils everything

It spoils everything (7x)

Overall Meaning

The first verse of the song talks about the singer keeping an affair in a book, and how that feeling might be what a villain feels. The seasons running in their chest could refer to the ups and downs of emotions that someone might experience in such a situation, but they choose to keep it all to themselves. The repetition of "I'm only to keep them" suggests that the singer is trying to control their feelings despite the difficult circumstances.

The chorus is a reflection on the image of love presented on TV or in media, and how it doesn't always match up with reality. The distraction of the shiny red balloon could be a metaphor for anything that takes our attention away from what's important or what we truly need, in this case possibly referring to the choice between the idealized version of love presented in media, and the reality of love and relationships.

In the second verse, the singer again laments keeping their affair in a book, admitting that while it may seem practical and harmless, it could lead to pain. They even demand an apology from the TV for presenting an unrealistic version of love.

Overall, the song seems to be about the struggles of navigating love and relationships, and the tension between what we see in the media and what we experience in real life.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm keeping my affair in a book
I'm writing down my private thoughts in a notebook

So this is how a villain feels
It feels wrong to keep secrets like a villain might do

They're running seasons in my chest
I have strong emotions that change with the passing of time

And I'm only to keep them
I must keep these emotions to myself

Maybe it's not true
It's possible that our expectations of love are unrealistic

Love on the TV
The love stories we see on TV

Just like we imagine it
Are not always what we expect in real life

And it's so hard to do
It's difficult to find true love

When there's always some distraction
There are always things that can get in the way of finding love

A shiny red balloon
Something bright and distracting

That spoils everything
That ruins our chance at finding love