1936    

Don Cherry
Nasce Don Cherry, grande jazzista e ispirato genitore: mette al mondo Eagle-Eye e Neneh Cherry.

1962    

Metallica
Nasce Kirk Hammett, chitarrista dei Metallica.

1991    

U2
Gli U2 pubblicano “Achtung baby”, uno dei loro dischi più importanti. Le influenze blues e acustiche abbracciate qualche anno prima per “Rattle and hum” vengono abbandonate per atmosfere elettroniche.

1907

Nasce Compay Segundo (cantante e attore: “Buena Vista Social Club”).

1960    

Kim Wilde
Nasce Kim Wilde, “meteora” bionda degli anni ‘80.

1. “Excursions” - 1991

The Low End Theory - 1991 - Cover - List of Tracks

KEYS

by Paul Bishop — June 23, 1991

Who has the keys to my heart?
I’m tired of loving from afar
When shall I find someone who wants the love I have to give?
I am not yet old, but my prime is slowly slipping away
Into this ethereal void of my heart
A warm vessel encased in a cold metal of loneliness
Maybe the lock has no known key
Am I destined for celibacy?

I have gotten close to many others
Some have the keys to several men’s hearts
Those I avoid.  I am not collectible
Some have lost their keys or just refuse to use them on one as I
Others have tried to pick my lock but none succeeded
Either the keys failed or I never loved the keys holders
Thus purposely changing locks to keep them out
Maybe I have switched locks so many times,
The one with the true key can no longer get in

So I relent
I break the lock on my heart and open the door from the inside
Exposing my turbulent emotions to all
And not one person stops and enters to examine my heart
No-one cares

I still want to find my key
To lock my heart’s door again
Keeping it away from the world
And throwing away the key
I have spent all my life looking for it
Now let someone else find the key and look for the lock

LISTENING

by Paul Bishop — October 20, 1991

Comfortable in your presence
Letting down my guard
Giving way to words
To say I find hard
For all the things that happened
Have taken my joy away
But you’ve given me what I need
Someone who will say…

“Talk to me, I care
What do you need?  I’ll share
For you, I’ll be there
Look for me anywhere
There is no need to fear
Mine is a listening ear
No shame in a tear
Talk to me, I’m here.”

MASTERING THE ELEMENTS

by Paul Bishop — January 5, 1991

I’m so tired these days
Too much thought and not enough sleep
So many things upon my mind
I can never fall to slumber deep
Worry is a horrible thing
It makes me think the worst
My future seems like an overcast day
And I’m waiting for the clouds to burst 

Will my plans be washed away
When the rains of doubt begin to race,
Or will I see the sun break through
To shine its hope upon my face?
Will I see the springtime blooms of success
Shoot triumphantly through winter’s snow,
Only to be frozen in unexpected frost
Or choked by the weed of woe?

Will all my dreams stay alive
Like the boughs of an evergreen tree,
Or will they fall as dry dead leaves
From the mighty oak that could be me?
Will my faith be roughly broken
As ships against the hidden reef,
Or will my boat find a sheltered mooring
In the harbor of relief?

The plans I have made for my life
Are as a flickering fragile flame
To brightly shine and dispel the darkness
Or to go out and become one with the same
No longer can I dream about
The things life has in store
Now I have answered to
The reality at my door

I must set about to bring my plans
Out in their profusion
And to dedicatedly work them out
Until my life’s conclusion
But how can I deal with the doubt that comes
When opportunities slip quickly by
There must be one who can encourage me
Who has more faith in me than I

So I deposit my life in the hands of God
Now my plans lie in His control
I have no fear for the future that waits
He is the master of my ship and soul.

PEACE

by Paul Bishop — January 9, 1991

When my mind is full of thoughts
That make me sore with worry
And so many things are going on
My life is in a flurry
I step away from everything
To my secret hiding place
Lit only by the light that shines
From Jesus’ lovely face

Peace, He gives me peace
When the wind blows hard
And drives rain from clouds above
Peace, He gives me peace
I am secure within his arms of love

In the heat of awful battle
When temptation is all around
And no-one hears my cry for help
No human aid is found
I retreat from the waging war
Where I can only hear God’s voice
And in my secret hiding place
He shows me the right choice

Peace, He gives me peace
When the decision is hard
And consequences difficult to face
Peace, He gives me peace
In his arms of love, my secret hiding place

These storms will come and go
And fill my life with strife
Temptation will sometimes be present
In the dark times of my life
But I know deep down within
In my heart there is a place
Where I can go for solace
Because of His saving grace

Peace, He gives me peace
Fully surrounding me
Like the protective wings of a dove
Peace, He gives me peace
He holds me tight within His arms of love

FADING MEMORIES

by Paul Bishop — March 14, 1991

During the time I have been here
I’ve spent long hours alone
Thinking of friends I left behind
And people I have known 

Our lives have sent us different ways
Now miles stretch between
Bonded only by the memories
Together we’ve felt and seen

But what will happen now
Am I naive if I hope nothing will change at all?
I’m too selfish to let go of what I once knew
I fear the idea of making the call

And suddenly finding out that
They don’t remember things quite as I do
But then I think and realize
That my memories are fading too

I cannot let go, but fight harder
My memories to meticulously maintain
But I cannot stop the march of time
And I’m losing more than I gain

For I could be making new memories
With the friends I’ve made here
But it takes so long to build that trust
That I had with all my far away peer

The time has come for me
To make an important decision
One that must reconcile
My mind and heart’s division

Creating room in my heart and mind
To keep old memories alive
While finding other friends in which to confide
That is for which I strive

And through all this I know
Of all my friends, there is One
Who has been with me in everything
And failed me in none

Who has always kept pace with me
As in life’s race I run
My Friend in all, and for all
Jesus Christ, God’s Son

THE CHOICE

by Paul Bishop — March 16, 1991

From my enveloping darkness I watched the light
Battle the blackness, my prison of night
Heavily waging a war for control
Over my anguished, tormented soul

Fire flared, and thunder rolled
The devil said, “His soul is sold!”
And the Lord said, “No! The deal is unmade.
Someone has the ransom paid.

The One into the manger born
Has rent the Earth, the Temple veil torn
Once born that man need not die
‘It is finished!’ was His cry.”

And the light split the darkness with a flash
My chains fell to the floor in a crash
Darkness dispelled, I beheld the grandeur
Of my risen Christ, my Saviour

“Rise my child,” I heard the voice
“Now is the time to make your choice.”
Two roads diverged: one broad, one narrow
And the lesser travelled I chose to follow

Upon that road I remain today
Though many times I would stray
But up I climb, my only goal
To meet the new Master of my soul

MY APPEAL

by Paul Bishop — April 24, 1991

There You sit in radiant glory
The King upon the throne
An here I kneel in peasant rags
So utterly alone 

In penitence I make my plea
“Master, forgive one so vile as me?”

I cannot look upon Your face
I cannot meet Your eyes
My judgment stands upon Your lips
I’ve lost sight of the prize 

In penitence I humbly kneel
“Master, listen to my crude appeal?”

Falling prostrate at Your feet
I hear angels take to wing
And then the incomparable sound
As they all begin to sing 

“Rejoice!  Proclaim the joyful sound!
Another wanderer has been found!”

CONFIDANTS

by Paul Bishop — May 24, 1991

It only seems so short a time, only four months when
I sat and let my inner thoughts flow out through my pen
But now I’m on the other side saying my goodbyes
Watching my friends leave through tear-blurred eyes 

I know you go away to do your part in God’s will
Still it leaves an aching void that I must somehow fill
For I have built a trust in you that few have ever known
All because of love for me you’ve shown

It also saddens me that the road on which you go
Is also the path the Lord calls me to follow
But present circumstances prevent such a task
So in my daily prayers this I ask:

May God guide you on your way as you live for Him
May He light the path before you when things are dim
As you reach out to others, as you’ve reached out to me
Through your God-guided efforts, let the people see…

Christ’s love which shines about your face
Mercy, gentleness, and abundant grace
All the other qualities that the Lord has given you
That makes your faith so pure and true

Confidants, teachers, sister and brother in Christ
Shining examples when the world has enticed
Though you’re leaving, my memories will keep you not far away
And my prayers will follow you each day

OASIS

by Paul Bishop — June 10, 1991

My throat is dry
I’ve dwelt too long in the desert of sin
Under the blazing sun
Where mirages are temptations
Offering cool, clear water
In exchange for my faltering heart
An oasis once filled with love for God
And God alone

But now it is a dry desolate land
Seemingly forsaken
My head pounds
The oppressive heat binds my mind
To one thought
“Water.”

My feet are blistered
They have endured so long a journey
Trying to find my heart’s oasis
Lost in the shifting sands
For I have wandered far
In my search for lost love, first love

“Where are You, Father?”
My voice rang back from the stones
And then was lost in the wind
On I walk
I am the only living thing in sight
I found water, but it was bitter
“Where are You?”
 
I sat near the top of a sand dune
And looked at my footprints
“If these are mine in front of me, I’ve walked in a circle…
But if not, someone is ahead of me.”

Following the strange track I suddenly jolted out of my reverie
There before me was a huge oasis
With palms, fresh water, and ripe fruit
A voice said,
“Living water I give unto you
For you sought Me though you were lost
And those who seek Me, find Me, when they seek with all their heart.”
And I entered in and rejoiced in the presence of the Lord

KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE (I GOTTA BE ME)

by Paul Bishop — June 15, 1991

When you were young, you might have been told
“When He made you, God broke the mold.”
So look in the mirror: that’s your face
You have to be yourself to win this race

Keep your eyes on the prize
Never lose sight of what you want to be
Keep your eyes on the prize
Say to yourself, “I just gotta be me!”
 
When you were in grade school, the teacher might have said
“You have to use your brains to really get ahead.”
So think for yourself.  Take your choice
Make it known that you have your own voice

Keep your eyes on the prize
Never lose sight of what you want to be
Keep your eyes on the prize
Say to yourself, “I just gotta be me!”
 
Some people tell you, “If it’s friends you want to win
Go with the flow and do the thing that’s in”
But you can’t be yourself if you’re part of the crowd
Declare your independence.  Say it clear and loud

Keep your eyes on the prize
Never lose sight of what you want to be
Keep your eyes on the prize
Say to yourself, “I just gotta be me!”
 
Don’t let society try to force you into
A life to live that’s just not you
Break the chains that bind you, set yourself free
Be a rebel with a cause of individuality

Keep your eyes on the prize
Never lose sight of what you want to be
Keep your eyes on the prize
Say to yourself, “I just gotta be me!”
 
So set your goals and make your plans
Listen to the Only One who really understands
He made us all different; it was His purpose, you see
You’re the only person He expects you to be

Keep your eyes on the prize
Never lose sight of what you want to be
Keep your eyes on the prize
Say to yourself, “I just gotta be me!”

PUZZLES

by Paul Bishop — August 16, 1991

Sitting at a table with the opened box
Of several hundred pieces in all
Distinguished by color and angles, but all mixed together
I let the pieces fall

Examining the given picture of my project
I think as how best to reach my goal
Building the border first to establish the limits
Then to fill the hole

Separating pieces by the picture part they contain
I work on one section a while
Until these sections form the whole
With no pieces left in the pile

And then the seams seem to disappear
Leaving a solid image, the original’s mate
Almost wondrous, a healing of the whole
Recovered from a fragmented state

How many people have said that life is a puzzle
That they cannot solve?
The pieces of life change so much and often
As through experience they evolve

But what they neglect to remember
Is that God’s plan is that life should be
Sometimes a path unknown and unpredictable
Giving our existence a little mystery

And though there seems to be many gray pieces
Parts of life spent in doubt and despair
They soon fade into the hopes and dreams
Pictured as rainbows that fill the air

But what of these gaps in my picture
Concentrated near the center?
Of all the shapes, these remain constant
As if they belonged there forever

I searched my life for the pieces
To fill the obvious hole
But I looked in vain to all my world
A gentle voice whispered, “Search your soul.”

There I discovered five small puzzle pieces
Three of silver, two of brown
The silver shapes were as sharpened nails
The others, a cross and thorny crown

Gingerly I moved the pieces into place
And suddenly I knew
The assembled picture now before me
And its meaning true

For without the fact that Christ suffered
My sin to defeat
I would not have the knowledge or faith
Life’s puzzle to complete

El infierno en la tierra. El grupo que comenzó siendo el proyecto tecno de un dj llamado Al Jourgensen en 1981 y ha llegado hasta hasta la actualidad transformado en una banda de trash-industrial pasando por su evolución logica y natural. Yo los decubrí en el 92, de una manera muy curiosa. Era el tipico programa debate de la cutre television española en la que le preguntaban a un cura-obispo-cardenal, no me acuerdo que cargo ostentaba, cual es la banda mas destructiva para la juventud. Me sorprendió al no decir AC/DC, Metallica, Judas Priest o Black Sabbath, tipicos topicos en esto del heavy satanico (!!!). El pavo, va y se suelta que el grupo mas peligroso para la juventud en estos momentos era un grupo americano llamado Ministry, que destrozaba la mente de la juventud con sus ritmos infernales, sus letras antisistema y la introducción en sus canciones de mensajes subliminales.
Baste decir que no esperé a que acabase el programa para coger 5000 pesetas y bajar a la tienda de discos de mi barrio (si, antes había tiendas de discos en casi cada barrio de la ciudad) y comprarme lo que pudiera del grupo con ese dinero. Tenian el Psalm 69, el The Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Taste y el The Land Of Rape And Honey. Acaso se podría pedir mas ?? eso fue como una señal para mi, la señal que estaba esperando. Me noquearon, me volaron los sesos. Y bueno, tengo todos los cds originales, cosa que no pueden decir otros sobre sus grupos favoritos. XD

Tema. N.W.O. (new world order)
Album: ΚΕΦΑΛΗΞΘ Psalm 69, the way to succeed and the way to suck eggs 1991
Artista: Ministry

All the locals hide their tears of regret
Open fire cos I love you to death
Sky high, with a heartache of stone
Youll never see me cos Im always alone

How to love without a trace of dissent
Ill buy the torture cos you pay for the rent
Tied high with a broken command
Youre all alone to the promised land

Im in love with this malicious intent
Youve been taken but you dont know it yet
What you will know must never live to be found
Cos its the subject of the eyes of the clown

Date: December 31, 1991

Age: 12

But life must go on…

Date: November 11, 1991

Age: 11

WATCHING THROUGH THE WINDOW

by Paul Bishop — August 27, 1991

I’m watching through the window
A little child plays outside
Her mother leans upon the porch
Face aglow with parental pride
Father also stands there
Arms around his wife
Theirs is a beautiful life 

I’m watching through the window
A little girl with her doll
Her mother is inside the house
I haven’t seen her since the fall
Father, though, is watching
As he has done for so long
But there’s something wrong

I’m watching through the window
A young child is alone
Tears streaking down her face
Her mother won’t come home
Father’s at the cemetery
Crying at the graveside of his wife
“Why did she take her life?”

I’m watching through the window
A teenager home from school
Hanging out with her friends
Trying to act cool
Life has changed so quickly
This is just a mask
So much she wants to ask

I’m watching through the window
Father’s home from work in town
Wound up from all his stress
All he wants is to lay down
He is always depressed
His smile is a facade
He starts to question God

“Why did she leave us?
We do not understand
Her smile was hope itself
Love, the touch of her hand
Gentleness and kindness
Were always in her heart
Why did she fall apart?”

I’m watching through the window
A lovely woman on the lawn
She is all alone now
Her father has passed
In her hands a photograph
Worn by her caressing touch
It still hurts too much

But He’s watching through the window
Seeing every glistening tear
Hearing every heartache
Melting away the fear
She’s accepted her mother’s choice
Because He’s taught her how
Her faith is in Him now

MY GIFT (SPECIAL WORDS FOR SPECIAL PEOPLE)

by Paul Bishop — August 24, 1991

I have not much to give you
My recompense is small
That I eke out my existence
While my expenses take it all

So what I have to offer you
Is little I’m afraid
But unlike monetary gifts
These words will never fade:

Beautiful disciples
Follow in His steps
Through life’s mountain ranges
And its valleys’ deepest depths

Watching, ever waiting
To serve others on the way
Those who fall in Satan’s snares
And others who would stray

To You, Lord, I bring them
Lay Your hands upon
Their lives, You’ve always known, Lord
You’ve carved them in Your palm

They serve You as You once served
As the Servant of Man
Bless them now, I ask You
In Jesus’ name, Amen

WALLS

by Paul Bishop — September 5, 1991

Born free, without a care
Thinking that all of life is fair
But soon men plant seed of doubt
To show what humanity is all about

A broken promise, withheld grudge
Trampling more hay into the sludge
Bake the clay until it’s hard
Make more bricks and keep your guard

You never know who’s by your side
Friend of foe, or ‘garden path’ guide
So build a wall around your land
Accepting no-one’s helping hand

Brick by brick, we build a wall
Stone by stone, we make it tall
Mortar and mud to hold it all
Nothing of men to make it fall

So it is with every sin
We add a layer and box ourselves in
Fear upon fear, doubt upon doubt
We build a tower with no way out

Before man lies a wall of rock
His heart hidden behind a lock
And now he cannot find a key
There is only stone to see

Looking above, he sees the skies
And hears others’ pitiful cries
He sees the folly of his way
But the stone is there to stay

Looking within, he sees trouble
In a heart of only rubble
Inside the barriers he has created
A soul-storm rages unabated

With his penitence to pay
He bows his head and starts to pray
While he admits his sins and fear
The walls change to let a door appear

Open the door and a new life you see
Walk through and join the free
Reach out an assisting hand
Tear down the walls across the land
 
Brick by brick, we build a wall
Stone by stone, we make it tall
Mortar and mud to hold it all
Only God can make it fall

SEASONS

by Paul Bishop — October 22, 1991

Autumn leaves falling
Nature is calling
The end of season’s near
Birds migrating
Bears hibernating
As Mother’s voice they hear

Colored leaves swirl amidst the wind
Summer is gone at last
Frosty morning
A timely warning
Winter approaches fast

See the trees bare
In the cold dry air
Limbs reaching for the sky
Ready for sleep
Through winter deep
Till spring opens her eye

Snowflakes float to the ground below
Creating a mantle white
Low-lying cloud
The world’s own shroud
Earth’s blanket in the night

As I stood
Within the wood
On that late winter day
The distant sun
Had finally begun
To melt the ice away

Hardy green shoots pushed up from below
Into a bleak and barren dale
Waiting to bloom
After the gloom
Of wintry skies so pale

Long dormant spring now to her wing
Sweeps across the land
Coaxing the trees
To sway in the breeze
Guided by her hand

And so the Earth breaks forth in beauty
Winter snow gone from her sod
An awesome sign
To these eyes of mine
Of the powers of my God

GAZING DOWN FROM THE HEAVENS

by Paul Bishop — October 23, 1991

The moon is full tonight
Shining down from the Heavens
As I stand alone
My heart is full of memories
That would overwhelm me with sadness:
“When will I speak to my friends again?”

The sun is bright today
Glaring down from the Heavens
As I walk alone
I wish for a companion
Who would talk with me on our journey:
“Will I ever walk with my friends again?”

The stars are gleaming tonight
Twinkling down from the Heavens
As I sit alone
Where are those who would comfort me
In these days of weary loneliness?
“Will I ever feel as I did with them?”

God is smiling today
Gazing down from the Heavens
I no longer am alone
He gives me strength to walk on
By my side He stands, the Almighty:
“And no longer will I fear the unknown.”

COMPOSERS

by Paul Bishop — November 3, 1991

With a blank page of manuscript
Into the ink, the quill is dipped
And from heart and mind ideas come
Words and music weaved to one
To take a place upon the sheet
Where melody and lyrics meet 

When is reached the point desired
From the initial point inspired
Viewing the music as a whole
A sense of pride permeates the soul
But now will come the more difficult test:
What interest will the public invest?

From the keyboard the music flows
Amidst the melody and arpeggios
What technically is only the movement of fingers
Creates an emotion that spreads and lingers
Across the strings upon the heart
Its own melody to impart

Counterpoint to the musician’s harmony
The Holy Spirit speaks to me
The peaceful voice of inspiration
Urging me to rededication
To use my talents to spread abroad
The love and mercy of my God
 
In my mind the music flows
Chasing the Spirit’s poetic prose
What does this music say to me?
It unbinds my soul and sets my free
As through this world I walk along
Upon my lips the Saviour’s song

SPIRITUAL WARFARE

by Paul Bishop — November 5, 1991

The name I love to hear
Echoes sweetly in my ear
Attuned to his presence I am
In penitence kneeling
Waiting for His healing
By the blood of the Lamb 

Forgive me, Lord, my sin
Let Your love flow deep within
Remove from me the guilt
For upon the tree
Your Son died for me
His blood willingly spilt

To You my heart is poured
Open before You, Lord
Accept my mere sacrifice
My body, soul, and mind
Past things left behind
Along with every vice

Show me the light
So I may fight
My faith will be my shield
I’ll not retreat
Till sin You defeat
Our enemy upon the field

The cross before my heart
A foil for Satan’s dart
Continually cast at me
But to Jesus I belong
In Him my weaknesses strong
A great Defender is He

Spiritual war I wage
Demons around me rage
But still I stand my ground
This two-edged sword
The Word of the Lord
The best weapon I’ve found
 
My next breath
May reek of death
Then no more foes I’ll face
But being borne above
On wings of love
To the bosom of His grace

LEAP OF FAITH

by Paul Bishop — December 3, 1991

It’s a long way down
You’ve reached the top, the height of your dreams
To find that there is no easy path down the other side
No path at all
The steep rock face of the cliff has few handholds
Nothing will stop your descent off the cliff
Where do you go from here?

Turning back to retrace your steps,
You find the way blocked by rubble:
The remains of all the dreams, hopes, and aspirations,
You abandoned in your arduous trek up the mountain
And what do you have now?
Nothing but faith
And it’s wavering

Faith in who?
Yourself?  No, that’s what trapped you here
Your dreams?  No, they’ve all been left behind
Your friends?  No, you’re all alone
Then who?

God is all there is to depend on
And He’s been with you all the way up the trail
At every intersection, He pointed at the right path,
But you always took your choice, refusing guidance
He’s given you many opportunities to lay down those heavy loads of oppression,
But you shrugged off His help
And now you find that though you thought the burdens had disappeared when you reached the top,
They now cover the path, making it impossible to navigate

So, now that you really have no other choice
Where do you go from here?
What does God say?
“STEP FORWARD.”
“But there’s nothing there!” you cry,
“Can’t You clear a way for me back down the slope?”
“WHAT ASSURANCE IS THERE THAT YOU WILL NOT PICK UP MORE BURDENS ON THE WAY DOWN?”

Silence descends upon the height

“But how can You ask me to risk my life for You?
What assurance do I have that I will not be smashed to death on the rocks below?”
“I RISKED MY LIFE FOR YOU AND I GAVE IT TO YOU.
NOW BELIEVE IN ME.”
“How?”
“JUMP!”