If We Make It Through December

"If We Make It Through December" is a song made famous by country music singer Merle Haggard. Originally released in 1973, the song was included on Haggard's Christmas album released that year.

In the years since its release, "If We Make It Through December" — which, in addition to its Christmas motif, also uses themes of unemployment and loneliness — has become one of the trademark songs of Haggard's career.

Background

Written in 1973, it treats with Haggard's characteristically simple poetry the desperate optimism of a working-class man dealing with economic hardship. Having been laid off from his factory job just prior to the holidays, the man becomes depressed over his predicament during what normally should be a "happy time of year." At one point, he observes that his little girl "don't understand why Daddy can't afford no Christmas cheer."

The chorus, "If we make it through December/Everything's gonna be alright I know" expresses hope, the protagonist telling himself that hope exists if he wants to deal with "the coldest time of winter" and the cold, lonely feeling he experiences while watching the snow fall ("and I shivver when I see the falling snow").

While Christmas is a prominently theme of this song, writer Tom Roland said the song is not considered a "pure" Christmas record, as the subject of economics was also explored.

Reviews

"If We Make It Through December" was received positively by a review panel with Billboard magazine. In the review published October 13, 1973, they wrote, "Another change of pace by Haggard, who keeps surprising with his various styles, and does so well with all. He is a complete artist."

Session personnel

Guitar: Merle Haggard, Bobby Wayne.
Bass: Norm Hamlet.
Fiddle: Johnny Gimble.
Drums: Biff Adam.
Piano: Hargus "Pig" Robbins.

Chart performance

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. [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/yearend_chart_display.jsp?f=Hot+Country+Songs&g=Year-end+Singles&year=1974]

Cover versions

Several singers in the country, folk and pop genres have covered "If We Make It Through December," most notably Alan Jackson (on his Christmas album, Honky Tonk Christmas), Marty Robbins and Faron Young and Holly Cole. [http://www.allmusicguide.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=17:693416]