About the song
If We Make It Through December: A Haggard Hope for Hard Times
Pull up a chair, settle in close, and let’s rewind to a time when Christmas lights twinkled brighter than promises, and carols echoed with a bittersweet twang. It’s 1973, the air is crisp with winter’s bite, and a song like Merle Haggard’s “If We Make It Through December” hits you right in the gut.
This ain’t your sugar-coated holiday tune. It’s a working-man’s ballad, sung with the weathered voice of a man who’s seen the good, the bad, and the ugly. Haggard, himself a one-time convict who clawed his way back from the bottom, paints a picture of a family struggling to keep their heads above water. The factory’s shut down, the bills are piling up, and Christmas cheer feels like a luxury they can’t afford.
“Got laid off down at the factory,” Haggard croons, his voice rasping with empathy. “And times are not the greatest in the world.” This ain’t no Santa Claus lament, though. It’s a father’s worry, etched in every line. He wants to make Christmas special for his “daddy’s girl,” but the emptiness in his pockets feels heavier than the falling snow.
But even in the face of hardship, “If We Make It Through December” glimmers with a stubborn hope. It’s a flickering candle in the cold December wind, a promise whispered in the dark. “Everything’s gonna be all right,” Haggard sings, his voice laced with a gritty determination. He knows the road ahead is tough, but he also knows the power of resilience, the strength of family, and the unwavering belief that better days are just around the corner.
This song isn’t just about Christmas. It’s about the human spirit’s ability to weather any storm. It’s a reminder that even when life throws its hardest punches, there’s always a reason to keep going, a flicker of hope to hold onto. It’s about the quiet victories, the small joys that make the hard times bearable, the love that binds us together even when the world feels cold and unforgiving.
So, pour yourself a glass of something warm, crank up the Hag, and let this song wash over you. It’s a reminder that we’ve all been there, facing our own December days. And if we can learn anything from Merle Haggard’s weathered wisdom, it’s this: hold onto hope, hold onto family, and hold onto the belief that even the darkest December eventually gives way to the spring.
Now, let the music play, and let’s see if we can make it through December together.