Every time I hear that an artist is doing a cover of an iconic song, I hope that they will do it justice. When a cover song is done well, it brings a great song to a new generation who may not be as familiar with the original version. That’s exactly what’s happened with Merle Haggard’s classic “If We Make It Through December,” which was released today by Kopper & Kash.
The song tells the story of a father who is struggling to make Christmas special for his daughter, even though he has been laid off at the factory where he worked. Today’s economic climate makes the song just as relevant as it was when it was originally recorded in 1973.
In my mind, Haggard’s version was perfection. I haven’t ever thought that something was missing or incomplete. The original was a solo performance. Other artists such as Alan Jackson, Cody Johnson, and Phobe Bridgers have done stellar solo versions of the song.
That’s what makes the new version by Kopper & Kash stand out from the versions recorded by those artists. Kopper & Kash is made up of Jeff Pennycoff and his two daughters, Mia and Ava. The addition to female voices on the track, knowing they are Jeff’s daughters, adds an element that I haven’t heard in previous versions. For me, it makes the struggle described in the song even more real.
You can find more information about Kopper & Kash on kapperandkash.com. They can also be found on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.