Woody Guthrie's New Year's Resolutions
Photo by Woody Guthrie Publications, Inc.
With the holidays in full swing and another year coming to an end, it’s time to reflect on our New Year’s resolutions and see which ones made the cut (or narrowly slipped out of reach this go-around). In the same spirit, we give you Woody Guthrie’s “New Year’s Rulin’s” from 1943. This illustrated list of goals from the prolific songwriter and activist are sure to inspire our own intentions for the coming year–hopefully they’ll stick. If anything, Woody’s 'write a song a day' rulin seems to have stuck for him; the man damn well knew how to write. Some other favorites include:
- WASH TEETH IF ANY
- WRITE A SONG A DAY
- STAY GLAD
- HAVE COMPANY BUT DON’T WASTE TIME
- WAKE UP AND FIGHT
Here's the full transcript:
- WORK MORE AND BETTER
- WORK BY A SCHEDULE
- WASH TEETH IF ANY
- SHAVE
- TAKE BATH
- EAT GOOD - FRUIT - VEGETABLES - MILK
- DRINK VERY SCANT IF ANY
- WRITE A SONG A DAY
- WEAR CLEAN CLOTHES - LOOK GOOD
- SHINE SHOES
- CHANGE SOCKS
- CHANGE BED CLOTHES OFTEN
- READ LOTS GOOD BOOKS
- LISTEN TO RADIO A LOT
- LEARN PEOPLE BETTER
- KEEP RANCHO CLEAN
- DON’T GET LONESOME
- STAY GLAD
- KEEP HOPING MACHINE RUNNING
- DREAM GOOD
- BANK ALL EXTRA MONEY
- SAVE DOUGH
- HAVE COMPANY BUT DON’T WASTE TIME
- SEND MARY AND KIDS MONEY
- PLAY AND SING GOOD
- DANCE BETTER
- HELP WIN WAR - BEAT FASCISM
- LOVE MAMA
- LOVE PAPA
- LOVE PETE
- LOVE EVERYBODY
- MAKE UP YOUR MIND
- WAKE UP AND FIGHT