"If We Make It Through December" has become one of the trademark songs of country music legend Merle Haggard. While not a typical Christmas song, it has served as an anthem for working people during a tough time in American history.
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For some, Christmas is about Santa Claus, "White Christmas" and celebrating under the Christmas tree. But this country song is a reminder that that's not the case for everyone.
Originally released in 1973 on the album Merle Haggard's Christmas Present, Haggard used the song as a way to comment on the staggering unemployment and inflation rates that the United States were enduring at the time. The narrator's unrealistic optimism at just trying to get through the month is reflective of some of the news headlines at the time. Though the song became a representation of economics, that really wasn't how the song came to be.
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Haggard's guitar player, Roy Nichols, had been through multiple divorces. When Haggard asked him how he felt about enduring a divorce during the end of the year, Nichols said, "If we just make it through December.....". Haggard used that line to tell the story of a man who had lost his job and was unable to provide his child with anything for the holiday. The song was a hit and ended up also serving as the title track for Haggard's next non-Christmas album in 1974.
The song made headlines again in 2020 after multi-Grammy nominee Phoebe Bridgers included it on a four song Dead Oceans release also including covers of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," McCarthy Trenching's "Christmas Song" and Simon & Garfunkel's "7 o'Clock News/Silent Night." Proceeds from Bridgers' version benefit Los Angeles' Downtown Women's Center.
"If We Make It Through December" Lyrics
If we make it through December
Everything's gonna be all right, I know
It's the coldest time of winter
And I shiver when I see the falling snow
If we make it through December
Got plans to be in a warmer town come summertime
Maybe even California
If we make it through December, we'll be fine
Got laid off down at the factory
And their timing's not the greatest in the world
Heaven knows I been working hard
Wanted Christmas to be right for daddy's girl
I don't mean to hate December
It's meant to be the happy time of year
And my little girl don't understand
Why daddy can't afford no Christmas here
If we make it through December
Everything's gonna be all right, I know
It's the coldest time of winter
And I shiver when I see the falling snow
If we make it through December
Got plans to be in a warmer town come summertime
Maybe even California
If we make it through December, we'll be fine
This story previously ran on Dec. 9, 2019.
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