Duvet

This song is actually pretty straightforward to me, when you look at it out of context with the show. Let's do a line-by-line: ;D

And you don't seem to understand A shame you seemed an honest man

This is talking about someone she's been in a relationship with who seemed great at the time, but after some time int he relationship with him she's realized he isn't quite what she thought him to be--he's been deceiving her. By the wrods used, it's clear that the speaker is hurt and angry, not 100% sad or 100% mad, but a mixture of both, because she says it's a "shame," but realizes that he "doesn't seem to understand" and never will, so to be extra angry or sad is futile--it won't go anywhere with him.

And all the fears you hold so dear Will turn to whisper in your ear

In the speaker's mind, her deceptive lover's need for deception is because of his own insecurities. He holds these insecurities very close to him, not allowing anyone to see them, and not telling anyone, but instead expressing them in negative ways, by being superficial and lying to people. Therefore, she claims that he holds the fears "so dear," but by saying that they will "turn to whisper in [his] ear," she means that at some point they will come back to haunt him. At some point, she feels, he will recognize that he's done wrong, but it'll be too late to fix things, so that the fears are only a whisper of what might have been at that point.

And you know what they say might hurt you And you know that it means so much And you don't even feel a thing

In these lines, she's expressing that somewhere, deep down, this man knows that eventually his deeds will catch up to him, and that something very bad will come of it, but it doesn't phase him--he "doesn't feel a thing," and is completely blind (at least on a conscious level) to the hurt that he will later incur.

I am falling, I am fading I have lost it all

This is an expression of the grief and loss that she feels. Obviously, until recently in her mind, she had a perfect relationship. Anyone who has been in a long-term relationship knows that you come to rely on that person for your primary means of support--while you may have friends and family, you tend to rely on your significant other for most of your emotional needs. Thus, with this "emotional crutch" gone, she feels like she is falling...and that she is fading, as that other person tends to become your identity as well, she feels she has lost a part of herself. Therefore, she is both falling and fading, and has lost it all.

And you don't seem the lying kind A shame then I can read your mind

This is kind of a repetition of the first lines. She is just reiterating the "A shame you seemed an honest many here," by stating once again that she wasn't just naive--he really did seem like a nice, honest, guy. However, she points out, she can read his mind. Obviously, this isn't literal--this has two other meanings, however. In a long-term relationship, you learn to "read" the other person--you know their thoughts, and what goes on in their minds. This is what she is saying here--that she's not stupid, and she understands what is really going on. Being able to read his mind here, also refers to the fact that she NOW can understand him, because she's found some sort of evidence of his deceptions.

And all the things that I read there Candle lit smile that we both share

This line is a little more nebulous than some of the others, but I think she's bringing up how she can see more than just the deception going on within him. She's a very insightful person, clearly. She understands, as mentioned earlier, that his deception is based in insecurity. Therefore, she sees not only his faults (which make her angry), but his good points, and the nice times they had (which she is sad about, because she realizes she must give that all up due to his behavior). Thus, based on this information, I think she is saying that she can see more than the deception, and as an example of this, she brings up the "candlelit smile [they] both shared." This is an allusion to the good times they had, and I think the candlelit part is there to try and represent some specific memories as well as generally indicating good times.

and you know I don't mean to hurt you But you know that it means so much And you don't even feel a thing

By changing it to "I don't mean to hurt you," I think she's indicating that it wasn't her choice for this to happen, for them to break up, but becasue of his behavior, it has to be this way, whether she really wants to or not. She then says "you know that it means so much," as in, I believe, deep down he understands that what he did would end their relationship, he knows the true magnitude of it all, but he still can't feel remorse truly, because of his attitudes.

I am falling, I am fading, I am drowning Help me to breathe I am hurting, I have lost it all I am losing Help me to breathe

This is another repetition of the representation of her feelings of angst regarding the situation. She's asking for "help to breathe," because previously, I'm assuming, she could turn to him for that help, and now she's at a loss--no one is left for her.

As far as the title being "Duvet," I partially agree with Xian-thir. A duvet represents comfort, which is both what she is leaving behind and what she is seeking (isn't that what we all do each day on some level?). Also, though, when I hear the word duvet, I think of a Duvet-cover...something which is used to cover an old duvet and make it prettier. I think this represents the man, whose insecurities caused him to cover up his true self and lead a life of deception. Therefore, the comfort she had was not real.

Anyway, this is all the meaning OUT OF context with the show. In context, I think many of the allusions to relationships obviously must be thrown out of the meaning to relate it to the show.

Mostly applicable is the chorus. Lain, throughout the show, is being uprooted, and forced to consider things that most adults haven't even figured out. Therefore, she feels lost, and craves a hand to hold onto.

Also the "you don't seem to understand," and "it means so much" lines apply, because no one around her seems to consider the magnitude of everything that is really going on arond them--but it all holds a much greater significance than they all realize.

"All the fears you hold so dear will turn to whisper in your ear," in this line seems to mean that we all, as humans, have certain fears about life (what happens after we die? what is our true purpose? etc,) that we all have, yet fail to consider fully amidst the chaos of daily life. We push these thoughts aside for a later time which never truly comes. However, in light of the huge things happening in Lain's world, the implication is that the fears of each person will soon come to confront them, and they will once and for all be forced to face them.

Still, however, while people know, to some degree, this will one day happen, they still "don't feel a thing," they try to ignore it and pretend it won't happen.

Even the seemingly unapplicable lines of "A shame you seemed an honest man," and "you don't seem the lying type" can really fit here, when applied to society in the aggregate instead of merely a relationship. I believe it is implying that there are many people who seem wise, or good, or true to themselves, but in Lain's world, even these people fail to face reality the way they need to ultimately. Therefore, they seem good, but it's clear that ultimately they don't take things as seriously as they need to.

To me, this song works very well whether in context with the show or not. Also, I'm pretty sure this song is done by Boa the singer, not the group--I've heard her other songs, and it's the same voice.

-Kari

For everyone that still thinks this is the Korean BoA - it's most definitely not... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%B4a

It's also mentioned here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_Experiments_Lain "The series' opening theme, "Duvet", was written and performed in English by the British rock band Bôa."

I have the Duvet (single), the Tall Snake (EP), The Race of a Thousand Camels (album), and the Twilight (album) which also contains the acoustic version... they are from the UK.

I also have both Lain soundtracks the original Serial Experiments Lain Soundtrack & the Cyberia Mix ;) Yeah, I love the series... which put me onto the music - though not enough to pay the ridiculous price they want for the Blu ray version - though I'm tempted ;)

It took me so long to find the albums because I too initially thought they were the Korean BoA - and trying to search online for Boa back when I was after these songs was nearly as difficult as searching for "The The" ;) It seems there's more info online now about them than there was a few years ago.

I also really like their songs "Scoring" and "Deeply" - though if you can get the Twilight album, there's no need for Thousand Camels, as Twilight has the same songs plus a few more (probably near impossible to find a the Thousand Camels album now anyway ;) )

Wonderful song. Once of the best theme songs, I think. The acoustic version is brilliant.

Wow. this is a beautiful song. sad song that makes think.

this is one of the only songs i know by boa, because of Lain. really beautiful song, though. by the way, its a band from the UK, not a singer.

This is like "Torn" by Natalie Umbruglia, except this is better cause it makes me more ashamed of being a guy.

To those confused, this song is by the British band bôa. Not the Korean BoA. They even made a video for this song years ago (youtube it) and it is not the Korean BoA.

I like listening to it when I'm depressed.

He ignores a difficult truth, but his conscience will catch up to him. He feels no pain in the now because he maintains a balance of cognitive dissonance to keep his ego intact. But, inside, he is in the most pain.

I interpret the lines "i am falling, i am fading, i am drowning" to be spoken by both parties, the dishonest man's unspoken cry for help, and the friend trying to awaken this man's conscience.

Looking at this song, it seems to be about becoming decentralized. It lists the good parts of life, only to follow it up with the parts that make it unbearable. It then uses these bad parts of life to justify tossing it all aside and disconnecting from your emotions.

In short, it's the type of mindset where you'd rather feel nothing at all instead of the bad parts of life.The bit that really makes me believe the meaning is right are these lines

"and you know I don't mean to hurt you But you know that it means so much And you don't even feel a thing"

This song is about a relationship they had with somebody. Although it had good moments, they are scarred by the horrible ending of it. They've become convinced that they can 'read their mind' and have figured out that they don't care. They use it to justify sacrificing their own feelings. The singer thinks "If they can give up showing care, then why can't I?"