Introduction:
If We Make It Through December is not originally a song by Alan Jackson. The song was written and first recorded by country music legend Merle Haggard in 1973. Haggard, known for his Bakersfield sound and working-class storytelling, released the song on his album Merle Haggard’s Christmas Present. If We Make It Through December stands out on the album because unlike most of the tracks, it is not a traditional Christmas song.
The song instead captures the bittersweet realities of the holiday season for those facing economic hardship. The lyrics tell the story of a man facing unemployment and financial strain just before Christmas. Despite the bleak circumstances, the narrator clings to a glimmer of hope, expressing a belief that things will turn around “if we make it through December.”
If We Make It Through December resonated with many listeners and became a signature song for Haggard. The song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart and helped solidify Haggard’s reputation as a voice for the working class.
Alan Jackson, another country music artist known for his traditional sound and relatable lyrics, covered If We Make It Through December in 1993 on his album Honky Tonk Christmas. Jackson’s version stayed true to the Haggard original, but it helped introduce the song to a new generation of country music fans. If We Make It Through December has become a staple of Christmas playlists and a poignant reminder of the financial struggles some face during the holidays.
Video:
Lyrics:
If We Make It Through December
If we make it through DecemberEverything’s gonna be all right, I knowIt’s the coldest time of winterAnd I shiver when I see the falling snowIf we make it through DecemberGot plans to be in a warmer town come summertimeMaybe even CaliforniaIf we make it through December, we’ll be fineGot laid off down at the factoryAnd their timing’s not the greatest in the worldHeaven knows I’ve been working hardWanted Christmas to be right for daddy’s girlI don’t mean to hate DecemberIt’s meant to be the happy time of yearAnd my little girl don’t understandWhy daddy can’t afford no Christmas hereIf we make it through DecemberEverything’s gonna be all right, I knowIt’s the coldest time of winterAnd I shiver when I see the falling snowIf we make it through DecemberGot plans to be in a warmer town come summertimeMaybe even CaliforniaIf we make it through December, we’ll be fine