- published: 08 Sep 2014
- views: 4240
Andrew Roth (23 April 1919, New York City – 12 August 2010) was a biographer and journalist known for his compilation of Parliamentary Profiles, a directory of British Members of Parliament, which is available online in The Guardian. A well-known figure amongst the politicians and journalists in Westminster for fifty years, he was also known for his appearances on British television.
He scoured Hansard, gossip columns, vote papers, and committee reports to compile his profiles of the personnel of the U.K. Parliament and assessed their character traits, history, opinions, and psychological drives. The profiles also included cartoon caricatures by Terry Roth.
Roth's detailed obituaries were composed for international and national figures of note, using the skills and information he collected in his biographical research. A catalogue of his published obituaries in the archives of The Guardian provides an insightful and historical perspective to contemporary news as the deaths of the noteworthy are documented and he reviews their lives.
When I was alone, all on my own
I'd sit myself down and take a look around
I'd think about my life, all the trouble and strife
And the things which went wrong and lasted so long
When I was feeling bad, maybe lonely and sad
I'd put my hands to my head and wonder where life led.
And where I was going to when my journey was through
But meanwhile up high I was always under the Eye.
The mystery of love, the push and the shove
Of friendship betrayed, of plans I mislaid,
The oceans I crossed, the things that I lost
And the world in my hand as dreams turned to sand.
All the agony of pride of emotion that died
Like a statue of stone, I thought I was all alone
Oh but that was just a lie, darkness magnified,
'Cause somewhere up high, I was always under the eye.
I shouldered my load, then I took off down the road
I drove in my car, and I played my guitar, mon.
I crashed in a plane, I really damaged my brain
And then I layed in my bed with all this music in my
head.
The years have rolled by, I've watched the past die
But feelings remained like mercy much strained.
Like a seed left unsown, like a leaf that was blown
Like a man who was blind, there was a lock on my mind.
Then a man came to me and he held out the key
And the lock hinge was blown, I had never been alone
Yeah, that ws just a lie, darkness magnified
And though I was not away, all the time my Father was