Lyric Resolutions: New Year Wisdom from the Great American Songbook

Every January, we make resolutions we don’t really mean. Every February, we forgive ourselves. And by March, we’re quietly humming something familiar and hoping for the best.

At Songbook Ink, we believe the best resolutions don’t come from self-help books or phone reminders. They come from lyrics that have already survived heartbreak, hangovers, reinvention, and smoky piano bars.

So this year, instead of promising a “new you,” why not borrow a little wisdom from the Great American Songbook? Timeless words. Better phrasing. Far more swing.

Below are a few lyric-led resolutions. Each one worthy of being lived by, framed, inked, or gifted to someone who needs a gentle nudge in the right key.

“Accentuate the Positive”

Resolution: Edit your inner monologue.

This lyric has been doing the work of modern affirmations long before hashtags existed.

Accentuating the positive doesn’t mean ignoring the negative. It just means not letting it steal the show.

This year, we’re releasing our album Accentuate the Positive, inspired by the song originally made famous by Bing Crosby in 1944. After Bing recorded it, “Accentuate the Positive” became one of the songs that helped carry Americans through World War II. Our album celebrates the beloved standards of the 1920s–1940s, music that grew up alongside the greatest generation. Now re-released with new musicians and added songs, Accentuate the Positive returns with fresh energy while honoring the timeless spirit of the American Songbook.

“Let’s Fall in Love”

Resolution: Say yes (and mean it)

Treat love as a verb. Sometimes it’s reckless, sometimes it’s sweet. But it’s always worth the risk.

So fall in love with a person. A city. A book. A creative project. Falling in love creates a version of yourself that feels a little braver.

Our favorite version is here by Louis Armstrong and Oscar Peterson.

“Fly Me to the Moon”

Resolution: Aim a little higher than feels reasonable.

The Songbook reminds us that wanting big things doesn’t make you foolish. It makes you alive. So this year, ask for the moon. Not because you expect to get it but because you know the journey is a delicious mix of ambition and dreams.

One of our favorite versions (except when we’re in the mood for Astrud Gilberto’s bossa nova version) is by Frank. He was definitely someone who knew playing it safe was never particularly jazzy.

“On the Sunny Side of the Street”

Resolution: Change your angle.

Sometimes the street doesn’t change but the side you walk on does.

Perspective is everything, and the Songbook knows how to shift it without pretending the clouds aren’t real.

“Teach Me Tonight”

Resolution: Stay curious.

Learning doesn’t need to be productive or profitable. It can be romantic. Playful. A little messy.

There are soooo many great versions of this song. This one by Dinah Washington is one of many we love.

“Give Me the Simple Life”

Resolution: Want less (seriously, it’s possible)

In a world obsessed with more (more goals, more gadgets, more notifications, more social media friends) this lyric dares to ask for less.

This year, resolve to simplify. Fewer obligations. Clearer priorities. More room to breathe. Remember: the simple life isn’t boring; it’s curated :)

Listen to the timeless lyrics here. It’s for minimalists, burnt-out maximalists, and anyone craving a little peace and quiet.

“Look for the Silver Lining”

Resolution: See the bright side (even if you squint)

Some days deliver rainstorms and power outages. Others deliver full-scale melodrama.
This year, resolve to look for the silver lining, not because everything is fine, but because optimism is a skill worth practicing. It teaches us that perspective is everything.

The Songbook’s version of hope isn’t naïve; it’s earned. It knows clouds happen. It just insists they’re not the whole story.

The tune is included in our “Accentuate the Positive” album, sung by Jane Monheit. Until then, this version by Chet Baker never, ever gets told.

“Button Up Your Overcoat”

Resolution: Take care of yourself like someone who plans to stick around.

This isn’t about fashion (though the Songbook never objects to good tailoring). It’s about practicality, warmth, and knowing that resilience doesn’t always look heroic. Sometimes it looks like an umbrella or waterproof boots.

Wyatt Michael sang it perfectly on our Swinging In The Holidays album here.

“The Best Is Yet to Come”

Resolution: Refuse to peak prematurely.

This lyric is confidence without arrogance. It reminds us to believe that what’s ahead still has surprises. There are still milestones, reinventions, fresh starts, and new discoveries to come.

“Blue Skies”

Resolution: Let yourself believe things can go right.

After enough rainy, gray days (yes, we’re talking to you California), optimism can feel suspicious. But the Songbook isn’t afraid of joy and knows it doesn’t need to be justified.

This year, resolve to welcome the good when it arrives. Don’t downplay it. Don’t rush past it. Just enjoy the view.

“Nice Work If You Can Get It”

Resolution: Redefine success.

Work can be meaningful. It can also be exhausting. For a lot of us, it’s both.

These lyrics understand ambition and irony. They remind us that success isn’t about having it all, but about knowing what’s worth wanting.

Ella’s version always lightens our mood.

“I Got Plenty o’ Nothin’”

Resolution: Practice selective ambition.

The hustle will still be there tomorrow. And the next day. Forever.

But the Songbook dares to suggest that wanting less, sometimes, is its own quiet luxury.

The Final Chorus

The American Songbook has always understood what resolutions forget: life is complicated. Love is imperfect. And the right words, at the right moment, can carry you through.