2020 has flat out sucked. There’s no other way around it.
We’ve lost a number of icons in the country music world, Coronavirus has ravaged the world, the mass shutdowns, people losing their jobs, the nonexistence of concerts… all and all it’s been a God-awful year that people can’t wait to get rid of.
As we cross into the final month of the year, a classic country song came to mind:
Merle Haggard’s “If We Make It Through December”
The Hag tells the story of a man who got laid off at the factory and is struggling through what is supposed to be one of the happiest times of year.
“Got laid off down at the factory
And there time is not the greatest in the world
Heaven knows I been workin’ hard
I wanted Christmas to be right for daddy’s girl
Now I don’t mean to hate December
It’s meant to be the happy time of year
And my little girl don’t understand
Why daddy can’t afford no Christmas gift.”
Haggard originally wrote and recorded “If We Make It Through December” in 1973 for his album Merle Haggard’s Christmas Present, and yet somehow 47 years later, it’s as relatable as ever. With unemployment what it is right now, there’s no doubt it’s going to be a rough holiday season for many of us. Just getting through it and away from the thought of the year 2020 will be the littlest of victories.
“If we make it through December we’ll be fine”
God, I hope Merle is right with this one.
