A Bit of Sanity From the Past: Woody Guthrie’s Recipe for a New Year’s Resolution
On Jan. 1, 1943, the American folk music legend jotted in his journal a list of 33 “New Years Rulin's."
Pages from the musician's journal. (Open Culture)
Editor’s note: Fritzi Cohen shared Jim Hightower’s post with Truthdig for reposting. Cohen is a longtime peace activist and owner of the Tabard Inn in Washington, D.C.
On Jan. 1, 1943, the American folk music legend Woody Guthrie jotted in his journal a list of 33 “New Years Rulin’s.” Nowadays, we’d call them New Year’s Resolutions. Adorned by doodles, the list is down to earth by any measure. Family, song, taking a political stand, personal hygiene—they’re the values or aspirations that top his list.
Below, we have provided a transcript of Guthrie’s Rulin’s. 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 cloths often 13. Read lots good books 14. Listen to radio a lot 15. Learn people better 16. Keep rancho clean 17. Dont 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 dont 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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