Woody Guthrie's New Year's Resolutions

Photo of Woody Guthrie's journal entry from 1942 containing his New Year's Rulin's

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:

  1. WORK MORE AND BETTER
  2. WORK BY A SCHEDULE
  3. WASH TEETH IF ANY
  4. SHAVE
  5. TAKE BATH
  6. EAT GOOD - FRUIT - VEGETABLES - MILK
  7. DRINK VERY SCANT IF ANY
  8. WRITE A SONG A DAY
  9. WEAR CLEAN CLOTHES - LOOK GOOD
  10. SHINE SHOES
  11. CHANGE SOCKS
  12. CHANGE BED CLOTHES OFTEN
  13. READ LOTS GOOD BOOKS
  14. LISTEN TO RADIO A LOT
  15. LEARN PEOPLE BETTER
  16. KEEP RANCHO CLEAN
  17. DON’T GET LONESOME
  18. STAY GLAD
  19. KEEP HOPING MACHINE RUNNING
  20. DREAM GOOD
  21. BANK ALL EXTRA MONEY
  22. SAVE DOUGH
  23. HAVE COMPANY BUT DON’T WASTE TIME
  24. SEND MARY AND KIDS MONEY
  25. PLAY AND SING GOOD
  26. DANCE BETTER
  27. HELP WIN WAR - BEAT FASCISM
  28. LOVE MAMA
  29. LOVE PAPA
  30. LOVE PETE
  31. LOVE EVERYBODY
  32. MAKE UP YOUR MIND
  33. WAKE UP AND FIGHT
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