The Statler Brothers were an American country music vocal group founded in … Read Full Bio ↴The Statler Brothers were an American country music vocal group founded in 1955 in Staunton, Virginia.

Originally performing gospel music at local churches, the group billed themselves as The Four Star Quartet, and later The Kingsmen. In 1963, when the song "Louie, Louie" by the garage rock band also called The Kingsmen became famous, the group elected to bill themselves as The Statler Brothers. Despite the name, only two members of the group (Don and Harold Reid) are actual brothers and none have the surname of "Statler". The band, in fact, named themselves after a brand of facial tissue they had noticed in a hotel room (they joked that they could have turned out to be the Kleenex Brothers). Don Reid sang lead. Harold Reid, Don's older brother, sang bass. Phil Balsley sang baritone and Jimmy Fortune sang tenor after replacing original tenor Lew DeWitt in the early 1980s due to the latter's ill health. DeWitt died on August 15, 1990 of heart and kidney disease, stemming from complications of Crohn's disease.

The band's style was closely linked to their gospel roots. "We took gospel harmonies," said Harold Reid, "and put them over in country music."

The group remained closely tied to their gospel roots, with a majority of their records containing at least one gospel song. They produced several albums containing only gospel music and recorded a tribute song to the Blackwood Brothers, who influenced their music. The Statler Brothers also wrote a tribute song to Johnny Cash, who discovered them. The song was called "We Got Paid by Cash", and it reminisces about their time with Cash

Since forming, the Statler Brothers have released over 40 albums. They received Grammy Awards in 1966 and 1973. Two of their best-known songs are their first big hit, Flowers on the Wall, and the socially-conscious Bed of Roses. Late in their career they had a regular variety show on the cable television channel then known as The Nashville Network. Throughout their career, much of their appeal was related to their considerable ability for comedy and parody that they frequently interspersed into their musical act; they were frequently nominated for awards for their comedy as well as their singing. They recorded two comedy albums as Lester Moran and the Cadillac Cowboys, and one-half of one side of the album Country Music Then and Now was also devoted to satirizing small-town radio stations' Saturday morning shows.

The group disbanded and retired after completing a farewell tour on October 26, 2002. Balsley and the Reid brothers continue to reside in Staunton, while Fortune has relocated to Nashville, where he is continuing his music career as a solo artist. He has released three albums as a soloist. The Statlers continue to be the most awarded act in the history of country music.

Since the Statlers' retirement in 2002, Don has pursued a second career as an author. He authored or co-authored three books: Heroes and Outlaws of the Bible, Sunday Morning Memories, and You'll Know It's Christmas When.... He and Harold co-wrote a history of the Statler Brothers titled Random Memories released in February 2008.

The Statler Brothers have been credited as the first country music act to transfer the genre's nostalgia from a rural to a suburban setting. They have also been called "America's Poets" by Kurt Vonnegut.

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The Statler Brothers Lyrics

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If we make it through December
Everything's gonna be alright I know;
It's the coldest time of winter
And I shiver when I see the falling snow;
If we make it through December,
Got plans to be a warmer town come summer time;
Maybe even California,
If we make it through December, we'll be fine;

Got laid off down at the factory
And their timing's not the greatest in the world;
Heaven knows I been working hard,
Wanted Christmas to be right for daddy's girl;
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 here;
If we make it through December
Everything's gonna be alright I know;
It's the coldest time of winter
And I shiver when I see the falling snow;
If we make it through December,
Got plans to be a warmer town come summer time;

Maybe even California,
If we make it through December, we'll be fine.

Overall Meaning

The Statler Brothers’s "If We Make It Through December" is a heartfelt song that tells the story of a family struggling during the holiday season. The song opens with the singer expressing hope that if they "make it through December," everything will be alright. December, the coldest time of the year, is a difficult month for the family, and the falling snow reminds them of their hardships. The father has recently been laid off from the factory and struggles to provide a happy Christmas for his daughter. The singer's daughter is upset that they can't afford any Christmas presents, and the family is unable to afford any luxuries.

Despite the difficulties faced by the family, there is a sense of resilience and optimism that permeates throughout the song. The singer dreams of warmer weather, and possibly moving to California to start a new life. The song conveys a powerful message that difficult times will pass, and that there is always hope for a better future.

The song was released in 1973 and became a popular hit, reaching #9 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. The heartfelt and relatable lyrics, combined with the Statler Brothers’s signature harmonies, struck a chord with listeners.

Line by Line Meaning

If we make it through December
Despite the challenges we are facing, if we are able to get through this month, there is hope for a better future.

Everything's gonna be alright I know;
I have faith that things will work out for the best despite the difficult circumstances.

It's the coldest time of winter
We are going through a particularly tough time right now.

And I shiver when I see the falling snow;
The cold weather serves as a constant reminder of our struggles.

Got plans to be a warmer town come summer time;
We have aspirations to leave this difficult situation and find a better place to live in the future.

Maybe even California,
California represents a place of warmth and sunshine, and a symbol of a brighter future.

Got laid off down at the factory
I lost my job and source of income due to circumstances beyond my control.

And their timing's not the greatest in the world;
The timing of losing my job during the holiday season is particularly unfortunate.

Heaven knows I been working hard,
I have worked tirelessly to support my family and provide for them.

Wanted Christmas to be right for daddy's girl;
I desired to give my daughter a joyous holiday season despite our financial struggles.

I don't mean to hate December,
My negative feelings towards December are not inherent, but rather a result of the struggles we are currently facing.

It's meant to be the happy time of year;
December is traditionally a time of joy and merriment, but our situation makes it difficult to feel that way.

And my little girl don't understand
Despite our efforts to shield her from our struggles, our daughter is still affected by our financial limitations.

Why daddy can't afford no Christmas here;
Our financial troubles prevent us from being able to provide the kind of Christmas celebration that our daughter deserves.

If we make it through December,
This line is repeated to emphasize the central message of the song: if we can overcome our current struggles, there is hope for a better future.

We'll be fine.
Despite the current difficulties, there is reason to believe that everything will ultimately work out in the end.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Merle Haggard

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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