Introduction:
When Merle Haggard released ‘If We Make It Through December’ in 1973, he wasn’t trying to write a Christmas classic. He wasn’t even trying to write a festive song. What he crafted instead was something far more meaningful: a raw, unfiltered portrait of working-class America at Christmastime—one that still resonates just as deeply half a century later. In a genre built on truth, struggle, and hope, Haggard’s ballad stands as perhaps the most honest Christmas song country music has ever produced.
On the surface, the track is a simple story: a man loses his job right before the holidays and does everything he can to stay strong for his family. But inside that simplicity lies the song’s enduring brilliance. Haggard wrote about Christmas not as a glittery, idealized escape, but as a season that can magnify hardship. The pressure to provide, the desire to make things magical for your children, the weight of bills and uncertainty—all of it becomes heavier in December. Haggard captured that truth with a tenderness that makes the song both heartbreaking and profoundly human.
What makes ‘If We Make It Through December’ so important is that it gives voice to the people who rarely see their experiences reflected in holiday music. At a time when most Christmas songs celebrate joy and abundance, Haggard dared to acknowledge that for many, the season can be lonely, painful, or financially frightening. And yet, he never leaves listeners without hope. In the chorus—“If we make it through December, everything’s gonna be all right”—Haggard delivers one of the genre’s most comforting sentiments: things might be hard now, but they won’t always be.
The song struck such a chord that it quickly became both a chart-topping hit and an anthem for blue-collar perseverance. It still is. Every generation finds its own connection to the song’s story—whether during recessions, layoffs, or personal hardships. Its message is timeless, and its emotion is universal.
But beyond its cultural impact, the song is simply a masterpiece of songwriting. Haggard’s understated vocal, the minimal arrangement, and the aching steel guitar all work together to create a sense of quiet resilience. This isn’t a song that tries to dazzle; it settles into your bones. It lingers.
In a landscape of cheerful jingles and feel-good standards, ‘If We Make It Through December’ stands alone. It is the holiday song for real life—the one that understands that Christmas is not only lights and laughter, but also longing and sacrifice. And that honesty is exactly what has made it endure.
Fifty years on, Merle Haggard’s masterpiece remains the most poignant reminder that hope means the most when it’s needed the most.