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In 1973, the United States was going through a period of high unemployment and skyrocketing inflation. (Sound familiar?)
Times were tough for many people, but there were pockets of optimism.
Roy Nichols, guitarist for country music legend Merle Haggard's backup band, The Strangers, was going through a rough divorce.
One day, when Merle asked him how he was doing, Roy said, "Well, If we can just make It through December..."
That gave Merle an idea, and before long he had written a Christmas song that wasn't really about Christmas...per se.
"If We Make It Through December" was about optimism in a time of economic hardship. Although things looked bleak during the Holiday season, there was hope that it would all turn around by spring.
The song was released as a single from the album "Merle Haggard's Christmas Present" in October of 1973, and it quickly went #1 on the Country Charts in both the US and Canada. It also crossed over to #16 on Billboard's Easy Listening Chart.
The song was so popular, it also became the title cut from Merle's NEXT album in 1974.
Today, it's considered one of Merle's signature songs, right alongside "Okie From Muskogee" (1969) a and Mama Tried" (1968), and, of course it has long been a radio staple during the Holiday season.
"If We Make It Through December" by Mere haggard & The Strangers: A "Great 'Not Really About Christmas Christmas Song" of 1973!"
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