If We Make It Through December
Encyclopedia
"If We Make It Through December" is the title of a song written and recorded by American country music
singer Merle Haggard
. It was released in October 1973 as the lead single from album, of the same name
. 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.
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 shiver 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.
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
(on his Christmas album, Honky Tonk Christmas
), Marty Robbins
, Faron Young
, Holly Cole
. Joey + Rory
recorded it for their album A Farmhouse Christmas
with Merle Haggard
adding background vocals as well as singing the final chorus.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
singer Merle Haggard
Merle Haggard
Merle Ronald Haggard is an American country music singer, guitarist, fiddler, instrumentalist, and songwriter. Along with Buck Owens, Haggard and his band The Strangers helped create the Bakersfield sound, which is characterized by the unique twang of Fender Telecaster guitars, vocal harmonies,...
. It was released in October 1973 as the lead single from album, of the same name
If We Make It Through December (album)
If We Make It Through December is an album by American country singer Merle Haggard, released in 1974. The title track was previously released on Haggard's Christmas release of 1973, A Christmas Present....
. 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
Motif (narrative)
In narrative, a motif is any recurring element that has symbolic significance in a story. Through its repetition, a motif can help produce other narrative aspects such as theme or mood....
, also uses themes of unemployment
Unemployment
Unemployment , as defined by the International Labour Organization, occurs when people are without jobs and they have actively sought work within the past four weeks...
and loneliness — has become one of the trademark songs of Haggard's career.
Content
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 shiver 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.
Critical reception
"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 GimbleJohnny GimbleJohn Paul Gimble , better known as Johnny Gimble, is an American country musician associated with Western swing. He is an award-winning fiddle player and considered one of the most impressive fiddlers in the genre's history....
- Drums: Biff Adam
- Piano: Hargus "Pig" Robbins
Chart performance
The song spent four weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country SinglesHot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
chart in December 1973 and January 1974, and cracked the Top 30 of the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. "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
| Chart (1973) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 28 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 1 |
| Canadian RPM Top Singles | 30 |
| Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary Tracks | 37 |
Cover versions
Several singers in the country, folk and pop genres have covered "If We Make It Through December," including Alan JacksonAlan Jackson
Alan Eugene Jackson is an American country music singer, known for blending traditional honky tonk and mainstream country sounds and penning many of his own hits. He has recorded 13 studio albums, 3 Greatest Hits albums, 2 Holiday albums, 1 Gospel album and several compilations, all on the Arista...
(on his Christmas album, Honky Tonk Christmas
Honky Tonk Christmas
-Track listing:#"Honky Tonk Christmas" – 2:53#"The Angels Cried" – 2:51#*feat. Alison Krauss#"If We Make It Through December" – 2:45...
), Marty Robbins
Marty Robbins
Martin David Robinson , known professionally as Marty Robbins, was an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist...
, Faron Young
Faron Young
Faron Young was an American country music singer and songwriter from the early 1950s into the mid-1980s and one of its most successful and colorful stars...
, Holly Cole
Holly Cole
Holly Cole is a Canadian jazz singer, particularly popular in Canada and Japan for both her versatile and distinctive voice, along with her adventurous repertoire, which spans such divergent genres as show tunes, rock, and country music.-Holly Cole Trio:In 1983, Cole travelled to Toronto to seek a...
. Joey + Rory
Joey + Rory
Joey+Rory is an American country music duo composed of singer-songwriters Rory Lee Feek and Joey Martin Feek, who are husband and wife. Joey is the duo's lead vocalist, while Rory sings background vocals and plays guitar. The duo was the third-place finalist on CMT's competition Can You Duet in 2008...
recorded it for their album A Farmhouse Christmas
A Farmhouse Christmas
A Farmhouse Christmas is the first Christmas album by American country music duo Joey + Rory. It was released on October 11, 2011 via Vanguard Records and Sugar Hill Records. The album contains twelve tracks, ten of which are either new or not traditionally associated with Christmas...
with Merle Haggard
Merle Haggard
Merle Ronald Haggard is an American country music singer, guitarist, fiddler, instrumentalist, and songwriter. Along with Buck Owens, Haggard and his band The Strangers helped create the Bakersfield sound, which is characterized by the unique twang of Fender Telecaster guitars, vocal harmonies,...
adding background vocals as well as singing the final chorus.
See also
- Whitburn, Joel, "Top Country Songs: 1944-2005," 2006.