About The Song
“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.
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.
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.
The song spent four weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in December 1973 and January 1974, and cracked the Top 30 of the Billboard Hot 100. “If We Make It Through December” was the No. 2 song of the year on Billboard’s Hot Country Singles 1974 year-end chart.
Video
Lyrics
If we make it through December
Everythings gonna be all right I know
It’s the coldest time of winter
And I shiver when I see the fallin snowIf we make it through December
I got plans of bein in a warmer town come summer time
Maybe even California
If we make it through December we’ll be fineI got laid off down at the factory
And there timings not the greatest in the world
Heaven knows I been workin’ hard
I wanted Christmas to be right for daddy’s girl
Now I don’t mean to hate December
It’s meant to be the happy time of year
And why my little girl don’t understand
Why daddy can’t afford no Christmas hereIf we make it through December
Everythings gonna be alright I know
It’s the coldest time of winter
And I shivver when I see the fallin’ snowIf we make it through December
I got plans of bein’ in a warmer town come summer time
Maybe even California
If we make it through December we’ll be fine
