If you look up ten lists or playlists of country Christmas songs, you’ll likely find Merle Haggard’s 1973 No. 1 hit “If We Make It Through December” in at least five of them. In my opinion, it’s out of place. It’s not a Christmas song. The fact that the lyrical narrative is set in the month of December and the word “Christmas” appears in the song a couple of times doesn’t make it a holiday song.
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Of course, this is a matter of opinion, much like the argument of whether or not Die Hard is a Christmas movie. Sure, the action classic takes place during the Christmas season and there are several references to the holiday, but does that really make it a Christmas movie or is it an action movie with a Yuletide backdrop? The debate will likely rage on until the age of humanity passes and nature retakes the earth.
Why Merle Haggard’s “If We Make It Through December” Isn’t a Christmas Song
“If We Make It Through December” follows the chorus-verse-chorus pattern, having only one verse. This is where the two mentions of the holiday fall. After revealing that he had been laid off from his factory job, Merle Haggard sings I wanted Christmas to be right for Daddy’s girl. Later, he sings, My little girl don’t understand / Why Daddy can’t afford no Christmas gear.
Granted, that’s two mentions of Christmas in one verse. However, a song’s chorus usually speaks to the spirit of the composition more than the verses. The chorus of “If We Make It Through December” is about surviving a rough patch and hoping for better times in the coming year.
So, I contend that “If We Make It Through December” is a song about the struggles of poverty and the weight a parent feels when unable to give their children all the best things. Christmas just so happens to be an incredibly effective lens through which to view this particular struggle. All parents want to gift wrap the world and put it under the tree for their children. Not being able to afford to do so is hard.
Don’t get me wrong, this is a wonderful song and a great example of Haggard’s songwriting prowess. Just because I don’t believe it’s a Christmas song doesn’t make it any less touching.
Release History
If you want to go a step further, let’s look at the release history of “If We Make It Through December.” The song first appeared on the 1973 album Merle Haggard’s Christmas Present. This might seem like the gotchya moment that topples my entire theory. However, Haggard used it as the title track from his 1974 album which wasn’t a holiday album. In fact, he released the record in February, just a few months after the November 1973 release date of Christmas Present.
Merle Haggard Has Plenty of Great Christmas Songs
Merle Haggard’s Christmas Present is full of great original Christmas songs. The ten-track collection includes five Haggard-penned holiday tunes and five Yuletide classics. If I had to pick one, I’d suggest listening to “Santa Claus and Popcorn.” It captures the joyful spirit and childhood wonderment of the season while also combining the spiritual and secular reasons for the season. Check it out below.
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