It is 1973. The air in America feels heavy. There’s an energy crisis, the economy is tanking, and a general sense of "what next?" is hanging over the kitchen tables of the working class. Merle Haggard sits down and writes a song that doesn't just top the country charts—it crosses over to the pop charts because, frankly, everyone was feeling the squeeze. If We Make It Through December isn't just a Christmas song. In fact, calling it a Christmas song feels a little like calling Die Hard a holiday movie; it happens during the holidays, sure, but the heart of the story is about survival, pride, and the crushing weight of being broke when you’re supposed to be celebrating.
Merle knew this life. He lived it.
The song captures a very specific kind of blue-collar anxiety. It’s that knot in your stomach when the seasons change and the bills don't. You’ve got a little girl who doesn't understand why the heater is off or why there aren't boxes under a tree, and you’re standing there with a pink slip in your hand from the factory. It’s brutal. It is also one of the most honest pieces of songwriting in the history of American music.
The Story Behind the Sadness
Most people think of Merle Haggard as the "Okie from Muskogee" guy—the tough, patriotic, no-nonsense face of outlaw country. But Merle was complicated. He was a poet of the displaced. If We Make It Through December was released as the lead single from his album Merle Haggard's Christmas Present, but it actually came out in October. Why? Because the dread of winter starts long before the first snowflake hits the ground.
The narrator in the song isn't some abstract character. He’s a guy who just got laid off at the worst possible time. "Got laid off down at the factory," Merle sings, and you can hear the resignation in his voice. It isn't a protest song. It’s an observation of a reality that millions of people face every year.
Interestingly, the song spent four weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. It even managed to peak at number 28 on the Billboard Hot 100. Think about that for a second. In an era dominated by glam rock and disco-inflected pop, a depressing song about a laid-off factory worker in a cold house was a mainstream hit. That speaks to how deeply the lyrics resonated with the public during the recession of the early 70s.
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Why it Hits Different Than Other "Holiday" Songs
Usually, holiday music is about "the most wonderful time of the year." It's about sleigh bells, roasting chestnuts, and general merriment.
Merle goes the other way.
He talks about the California sunshine not being enough to warm up his soul. He talks about his "little girl" and the guilt of not being able to provide the Christmas she deserves. It’s a song about the gap between the life we are told we should have and the life we actually have. It’s about the performative nature of December. If you’ve ever had to check your bank account before buying a gallon of milk, this song is for you.
The Musicality of Despair
Listen to the arrangement. It’s deceptively upbeat in some versions, featuring that classic "Bakersfield Sound" with a light, walking bassline and some crisp guitar work. This contrast makes the lyrics hurt even more. It’s like putting a smiley face on a foreclosure notice.
The 1973 version features The Strangers, Merle’s legendary backing band. They understood how to stay out of the way of the story. The instrumentation feels lonely. There’s a specific kind of hollowness to the production that mirrors the empty pockets of the protagonist.
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The Legacy of the "Blue-Collar Anthem"
Over the years, everyone from Phoebe Bridgers to Alan Jackson has covered If We Make It Through December. Bridgers, in particular, leaned into the devastating melancholy of the track for her 2020 version, stripping away the country-shuffle and leaving only the raw, shivering bones of the lyrics. It worked because the song is timeless.
We live in an era of "gig economy" uncertainty. The factory might be gone, replaced by an algorithm or an app, but the feeling of being "laid off" and wondering how to navigate the social pressures of December is exactly the same as it was fifty years ago.
What People Get Wrong About Merle
There is a misconception that Merle was just a "conservative" icon. In reality, he was a populist. He wrote about the people the world forgot. He wrote about the prisoner, the laborer, and the guy who didn't make it. If We Make It Through December is a masterpiece because it refuses to offer a fake happy ending. It doesn't end with a miracle or a secret stash of money. It ends with a hope—just a hope—that maybe, if they can just get to January, things will be better.
"Cuz it's the coldest day of winter," he sings. He isn't talking about the thermometer. He’s talking about the season of the soul.
Why We Still Need This Song Today
Life is messy. Sometimes, the holidays aren't about joy; they are about endurance.
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If you are feeling the weight of the world this season, put this record on. It’s a reminder that your struggle isn't a personal failure—it’s a shared human experience that has been felt by generations. There is a strange kind of comfort in knowing that a country music legend felt the same way and turned that pain into something beautiful that we can all lean on when the bank account is low and the nights are long.
Key Takeaways for Appreciating the Track:
- Listen to the lyrics, not the beat. The tempo can be misleading. Focus on the narrative of the father feeling like he failed his child.
- Contextualize it within 1973. The U.S. was in the middle of a massive economic shift. This wasn't just a song; it was a news report from the front lines of the working class.
- Check out the covers. Compare the original Merle version with the Phoebe Bridgers or Joey + Rory versions to see how the song’s meaning shifts depending on the vocal delivery.
Next Steps for the Listener:
If you want to truly understand the depth of this song, your next move is to listen to the live recordings of Merle performing it later in his life. His voice gets gravelly and more seasoned, adding a layer of "I've been there" that the studio version only hints at. After that, look into the history of the Bakersfield Sound. Understanding that Merle was rebelling against the "polished" Nashville sound helps you see why he chose to keep his lyrics so grit-and-dirt honest. Don't just treat it as a Christmas track—keep it in your rotation whenever life feels a bit too heavy to carry alone. It's a survival manual set to music.