Woodrow Wilson Guthrie (/ˈɡʌθri/; July 14, 1912 – October 3, 1967) was an American singer-songwriter, one of the most significant figures in American western folk music; his music, including songs, such as “This Land Is Your Land”, has inspired several generations both politically and musically. He wrote hundreds of country, folk, and children’s songs, along with ballads and improvised works. His album of songs about the Dust Bowl period, Dust Bowl Ballads, is included on Mojo magazine’s list of 100 Records That Changed The World. Many of his recorded songs are archived in the Library of Congress. Songwriters such as Bob Dylan, Phil Ochs, Johnny Cash, Bruce Springsteen, Robert Hunter, Harry Chapin, John Mellencamp, Pete Seeger, Andy Irvine, Joe Strummer, Billy Bragg, Jerry Garcia, Jay Farrar, Bob Weir, Jeff Tweedy, Bob Childers, Sammy Walker, Tom Paxton, AJJ, Brian Fallon, and Sixto Rodríguez have acknowledged Guthrie as a major influence. He frequently performed with the slogan “This machine kills fascists” displayed on his guitar.
Given all that, his list of resolutions is hardly a surprise.
Work hard 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
There’s a lot to unpack in that list – reminders of which things are important, such as self-care, living a purposeful life, loving family, and standing for something. That’ll be worth a standalone post by itself, but for now, it’s good to know that “Mary” was Mary Jennings, Guthrie’s first wife, with whokm he had three “kids” – Gwendolyn, Sue, and Bill; that this list was written in 1943, two years before he remarried; and that “Pete” is probably Pete Seeger, the American singer Guthrie met in 1940.
