ZOA was one of the more prolific bands of the Japanese underground, releasi… Read Full Bio ↴ZOA was one of the more prolific bands of the Japanese underground, releasing a slew of records and still being active well into the noughties. Fronted by singer and only permanent member Seiichiro Morikawa, the band at times counted (relative) celebrities such as Ruins-drummer Yoshida Tatsuya and ritual ambient unit Vasilisk in their ranks.

Light Shines
Z.O.A Lyrics

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At the cost of living I die
At the cost of dying I live
At the chance of sounding selfish
It's my life time
On the chance that I'll survive
And I'll keep my soul alive
Written on the wall and sign says
It's my life time

Shine the light down
Shine the light down
Shine the light down on me
Shine the light down
Shine the light down
Shine the light down on me

At the cost of losing I win
At the cost of winning I lose
I guess I only have to choose
'Cause it's my life time
On the chance the world slows down
And I'm finally losing my ground
In the end I hear the sound
And it's my life time

Shine the light down
Shine the light down
Shine the light down on me
Shine the light down
Shine the light down
Shine the light down on me

Somebody tell me what I'm doing here
I can't find the answers in the dark
You want to know about my biggest fear?
It's wasted time, time, time
Am I wasting time?

Standing here waiting for a sign
All I want to know is am I wasting time
Click click click time
Click click click time
Click click click am I wasting time?

Shine the light down
Shine the light down
Shine the light down on me
Shine the light down
Shine the light down
Shine the light down on me
Shine the light down
Shine the light down
Shine the light down on me
Shine the light down
Shine the light down

Shine the light down on me
Am I wasting time?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Z.O.A's "Light Shines" are about the struggle to find purpose and meaning in life. The first two lines, "At the cost of living I die / At the cost of dying I live," suggest that sometimes we have to sacrifice in order to really live. The third line, "At the chance of sounding selfish / It's my life time," implies that the singer is willing to put their own needs first to find fulfillment. The fourth line, "On the chance that I'll survive / And I'll keep my soul alive," further emphasizes the idea that living fully involves taking risks and making sacrifices.

The chorus, "Shine the light down / Shine the light down / Shine the light down on me," is a plea for guidance and meaning in life. The second verse follows a similar pattern to the first, with the lines "At the cost of losing I win / At the cost of winning I lose," suggesting that sometimes we have to let go of our ego or accomplishments to truly win. The bridge, "Somebody tell me what I'm doing here / I can't find the answers in the dark / You want to know about my biggest fear? / It's wasted time, time, time," expresses a common fear of feeling purposeless or wasting time. The repeated question at the end, "Am I wasting time?" shows the uncertainty and anxiety that comes with trying to find one's place in the world.

Overall, "Light Shines" is a poignant reflection on the struggle to find meaning in life, and the importance of taking risks and making sacrifices in order to truly live.

Line by Line Meaning

At the cost of living I die
I am sacrificing my livelihood for something greater, even if it means it could lead to my downfall.

At the cost of dying I live
I am willing to risk my life for something worth fighting for, because it brings me hope and purpose.

At the chance of sounding selfish It's my life time
Although it may appear selfish, I am prioritizing my own life and my own decisions for my future, because this is my only chance to live.

On the chance that I'll survive And I'll keep my soul alive Written on the wall and sign says It's my life time
I am hopeful that I will endure hardships and keep my true self intact. This message is written and stated clearly that it is my life and my responsibility to make the most of it.

Shine the light down Shine the light down Shine the light down on me
I am pleading for guidance and hope to be bestowed upon me.

At the cost of losing I win At the cost of winning I lose I guess I only have to choose 'Cause it's my life time
I am aware that there are trade-offs in life and that even winning may have negative consequences. I have to prioritize what is most important to me and choose accordingly, since this is my only opportunity to make these choices.

On the chance the world slows down And I'm finally losing my ground In the end I hear the sound And it's my life time
If the world stops moving so fast, I may finally realize that my time is running out. The end is coming and I hear it approaching.

Somebody tell me what I'm doing here I can't find the answers in the dark You want to know about my biggest fear? It's wasted time, time, time Am I wasting time?
I am struggling to understand my purpose and what I should be doing with the limited time I have. My greatest fear is that I am wasting the little time that I have left.

Standing here waiting for a sign All I want to know is am I wasting time Click click click time Click click click time Click click click am I wasting time?
I am constantly searching for a signal or indication that I am on the right path and not wasting my precious time. Time is fleeting and I am anxious that it is slipping away from me.

Shine the light down Shine the light down Shine the light down on me Shine the light down Shine the light down Shine the light down on me Shine the light down Shine the light down Shine the light down on me Shine the light down Shine the light down Shine the light down on me Am I wasting time?
Once again, I am asking for hope and insight to be given to me, because I am unsure if I am spending my few moments on this earth wisely.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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