if the creek don't rise saying if the creek don't rise saying

Historically, Southerners in the Appalachian mountains pronounced eternal as tarnal. That pronunciation suggests a clever word-smoosh between tarnal and damnation, so the savvy Appalachians could euphemistically express their anger without wasting an extra breath. A sister who is afraid of losing her brother and Sadie's grandmother and aunt, all tell their stories adding to Sadie's own. You gonna do nothing?". What Grandma says when you pull in the driveway, pop out of the car, and come running. Translated, this means: "We'll be there unless something out of our control stops us." After eating a big, delicious Southern dinner Granny just made, you have to finish up with a slice of sweet potato pie, right? DeSantis's year-long quest to strip Disney of its self-rule came after the entertainment giant, and Florida's . If the Creek Dont Rise by Leah Weiss is a 2017 Sourcebooks Landmark publication. The expression ". Lately, though, I have learned to wince quickly and let it go. It completely nailed the "mountain living" that I remembered my grandmother talking about. If you use this phrase, you could be declaring any number of things: surprise, dissent, happiness. https://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=Lord_willing_and_the_creek_don%27t_rise&oldid=70955250. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. A multipurpose Southernism. What better way to sweeten the sour than with a classic Southern libation? Its not a recent change. Don't worry, though, everyone hears this every now and again. The Creek were a tribe of Native Americans (indians) who would ambush people who were traveling West. You Cant Use These English Words In The UK, Understanding Black History: 10 Terms That Illuminate The Black Experience In The US. Unarguable Southern criticism. The story of Benjamin Hawkins relationship with the Creek,Cherokee, Choctaw and Chickasaw Indians goes back to 1786, when America was working on solidifying its hold on the new nation. Or, depending on where you live, it could be Sewanee, the small college town in Tennessee. purchase. Johnny Cash had a hit with the song If The Good Lords Willing, and Hank Williams Jr. titled his song If the Good Lords Willin (And The Creeks Dont Rise).. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. It turns out that the phrase was written by Benjamin Hawkins in the late 18th century. Then theres a long gap in the record before it began to appear again in the 1950s. And yes, I have heard the music of this culture and watched the dancing. But did he really say the words quoted or was a phrase morphed to include him as the author? Yet here I stand before you a speckled hermit, wrapt in the risen-sun counterpane of my popilarity, an intendin, Providence permittin, and the creek dont rise, to go it blind!. But, what we do know is English once used you and ye strictly to address a group of people. We've had a lot of delays, but God willing and the creek don't rise, we should have the house finished before winter. And this is one appearance in a newspaper: We are an American people, born under the flag of independence and if the Lord is willing and the creeks dont rise, the American people who made this country will come pretty near controlling it. The Cree and the Creek lived over a thousand miles apart, (the Cree are from Canada), so we now have people contributing folk etymologies that are nonsense on their face. (Or maybe the Piggly Wiggly, a Southern market chain that originated in Memphis, Tennessee). Somehow, the word went full circle and is now considered a distinctly Southern invention. While in the south, Hawkins was requested by the President of the U.S. to return to Washington. According to World Wide Words, when asked if it meant Creek Indians, their expert responded with: " Quite certainly not. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. The most interesting often hail from our older generations, such as the WWII era and those raised by them. I was going to ask him why, but I had to shoot him. Oh, if the good Lord's willing and the creek don't rise. I have even heard the accents and many of the stories from various artists who escaped the confines of this culture and were successful in attaining fame and fortune for themselves. In Gone With the Wind, Scarlett OHara says: I do declare, Frank Kennedy, if you dont look dashing with that new set of whiskers!. Required fields are marked *. This is our creative way of saying that you shouldn't crow like a rooster about your wealth and belonging today, because it could all disappear tomorrow. Lyndon Johnsons wife Lady Bird was fond of the phrase, and she wasnt one to cast aspersions on native Americans. Quick, what do you call a soft drink? Most of the ones on paved roads had bridges or culverts by that time, but not all of them and everyone still clearly knew what that saying meant even if the threat wasnt very real anymore. Copyright Michael Quinion, 1996. Apparently Carter had a great many pills, because the phrase found its way into the Southern vocabulary. It has been noted that the phrase should be correctly written as God willing and the Creek dont rise. Firsts, Mines, Asks. Catawampus(or, cattywampus) may have been popularized by Brits who delighted in parodying Southern vernacular. Hardy citizens awoken by first responders urging evacuation, Lawsuit filed against Summit Utilities over price gouging, 2023 2A State Basketball Tournament: EPC boys fall to Marshall in Quarterfinals, 2023 2A State Basketball Tournament: Bay boys fall to Bigelow in Quarterfinals, Arkansas State womens basketball falls to Southern Miss in SBC Quarterfinals, Arkansas women's basketball falls to #1 South Carolina in SEC Tournament, Fast Break Friday Night (3/3/23): Jonesboro boys advance to 6A state semifinals. Share. The first big battles in the Creek War were, indeed, attacks on white settlements, but it was not a matter of an uprising that threatened settlers, rather it was an outbreak of war between two armed groups in which whites and Indians sought each other out. It was set in the Ozark mountains featuring what some people called a witch. This 19th-century phrase was once used to refer to some fierce, imaginary beast, until we went off course and adopted the current meaning of "awry.". Step into the Deep South and experience the lives and hardships, hopes and dreams, of folk who have nothing except gritand sometimes loveas their currency. No Bigger Than a Minnow in a Fishing Pond, A Rooster One Day and A Feather Duster the Next, If You Know These Sayings, You Definitely Grew Up in the South, Only Real Southerners Know the Meaning of "Putting On the Dog", Things Only Southern Moms Say To Their Daughters, Things Only Southerners Say When It Snows. A friend of mine told me to shoot first and ask questions later. Chief Rose is asking drivers to be cautious while out and about. But in following verses the rhyme changes through "creeks don't rise", "creek stay low", back to "creeks don't rise". From the start there's been a film of dingy on my days.. Who better to write about the risks of the Creek rising in revolt? There is no typical Southern accent. Statements of the form "God/Lord willing and (some other condition being met)" are ancient extensions of simple acceptance of God's will in phrases like God willing and Lord willing. If the good Lord's willin and the creek don't rise. I'm a sucker for the well turned phrase and I was highlighting sentences here, one after another. Do You Know These Sizzlin Southern Sayings. (LogOut/ That means whatever you're talking about is worth less than very little. Theres nothing more Southern than a lively Hey, yall! And dont you dare think of spelling it yallSouthern Living has decreed this contraction of you all is spelled one way, and one way only. It mentions . Its typically used to describe a situation thats gone askew, awry, or out of alignment. In fact, virtually all the examples that Ive found in books and newspaper archives down to the present day are in lower-case. PS A belated congratulations on your appointment as moderator, Tom. In alternating first person narratives from a cast of characters that will be hard to forget, Leah Weiss took me to the mountain community called Baines Creek in the Appalachian Mountains in NC. This was an extremely enjoyable read! Actually this is not proven. I will be at church on Sunday. Every researcher who has investigated the expression has dismissed an Indian connection as untrue. It turns out that the phrase was written by Benjamin Hawkins in the late 18th century. In the South, a hill of beans is its own measuring stick. This is a point of emphasis and exclamation that often ends without any additional telling at all. During the course of his 21 years in these positions he would oversee the longest period of peace with theCreek, only to watch his lifetime of work destroyed by a faction of this Indian Nation known as the Red Sticks during the War of 1812. There is no reason to suppose the Indian variant is true. Synonyms [ edit] (barring unforeseen circumstances): God willing, Lord willing Translations [ edit] show phrase References [ edit] You gonna let him break your spirit, too? Neither provides any documentation: http://pub122.ezboard.com/fwordoriginsorgfrm2.showMessage?topicID=191.topic, http://members.aol.com/MorelandC/HaveOriginsData.htm#LordWillingAndTheCreek. "If the good Lord's willing and the creek don't rise.". the creek don't rise. A preacher who hires a very different kind of woman than is usually found in these parts. No matter where you go in Kentucky, the people often have some colorful expressions. By date order (spelling and titling may vary): Not to be confused with the Ray LaMontagne album, If the Good Lord's Willing and the Creek Don't Rise, Vladimir Bogdanov, Chris Woodstra, Stephen Thomas Erlewine All Music Guide to Country 0879307609 2003 Page 629 Jerry Reed "Here I Am collects his complete recordings for Capitol (30 songs), most of which were originals. Well, that might just push you over the edge, and as you lean back youre bound to say, Im as full as a tick. Itd be plumb crazy not to express yourself (and your full belly) with this fun, old Southern idiom. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Well, I found it. Theres probably a connection between eternal damnation and tarnation. 4.5 stars! Where did this contraction, popular in both African American English and Southern American English, come from? In his response, he was said to write, "God willing and the Creek don't rise." My officers and fire department, we went along the river houses and notified everybody and recommended evacuation, said Hardy Police Chief Scott Rose. (LogOut/ Now, she admits to saying this to her children. Gumption is spirit, courage, spunk, boldness, and initiative. But, in the South, if your boss says that dog wont hunt in a meeting, it probably means your suggestion or idea needs improvement. The lyrics play on the expression Lord willing and the creek don't rise, which is thought to originate from Alabama. I doubt it will ever be possible to prove the source of some of these old sayings,but they sure are alot of funThis post set me a thinkin bout some things we grew up saying that we took from our eldersfor example when one is astonished you say Oh my Stars! Or when you havent seen someone in awhile you say I aint seen Hide nor Hair of em since..and there was plenty of times I was toldquit rootin around an causin such a ruckass!usually refering to me being in Granmas gardenand one can never forget the simpleSkeedaddle! Now the devil may knowWhere those sayings come from. The lyrics play on the expression Lord willing and the creek don't rise, which is thought to originate from Alabama. Speaking ofI declare, this now old-fashioned phrase acts as flustered response to an insult or an unbelievable story about someone who sadly made it into the rumor mill. Following that treaty John Siever formed the state of Franklin from land previously claimed by North Carolina but never ceded by the Indian tribes. This phrase isn't about physical appearance. Your email address will not be published. That argues for a more mundane origin: the old-time difficulties of travelling on dirt roads that forded rivers and streams; a sudden storm could cause water levels to rise without warning and render the route impassable. Mentioning Benjamin Hawkins is a masterstroke, since he was the General Superintendent for Indian Affairs between 1796 and 1818 and was principal Indian agent to the Creek nation; he became so close to its people that he learned their language, was adopted by them and married a Creek woman. With a colorful cast of characters and a flair for the Southern Gothic, If the Creek Don't Rise is a debut novel bursting with heart, honesty, and homegrown grit. A handful of rivers and streams will be out of their banks by Friday evening and Saturday morning. Some say farmers used to dunk their hens when they got broody. The exact tranlation might be, 'If God is willing, and there isn't a flood that would prevent us from meeting again next week'. "All get out" finds its way into Southern phrases constantly, and it intensifies any statement. The approximately 20,000 Creek Indians that still exist reside in Oklahoma. Powered by Discourse, best viewed with JavaScript enabled, origin of phrase - "if the creek don't rise". "If God so wills, and as long as intense rain does not wash away bridges or parts of dirt roads, or cover roads too deeply for safely following them." He told us about a young man who had been in the museum some weeks previous. Is It Called Presidents Day Or Washingtons Birthday? 1851. Faire can mean both do and make. This phrase entered the Southern vernacular via Louisiana and is in regular use in the New Orleans area. It happens often during a Southern summer, when the heat rises and the temperatures shoot past 100. We like to read this as one of the greatest Southern encouragements, but, like most of these phrases, you can use it however you'd like. Given that many small farm streams were crossed without bridges, which worked find most of the time, a swollen stream would cause problems. Southerners adopted this phrase wholeheartedly from its early usages in 1700s England and Scotland (where it meant "common sense"). Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), http://www.aboutnorthgeorgia.com/ang/Benjamin_Hawkins, Follow Thoughts and Ponderances on WordPress.com. I reckon "I reckon" can replace any number of phrases, such as: I guess, I suppose, I think, and I imagine. According to World Wide Words, when asked if it meant Creek Indians, their expert responded with: Quite certainly not. Oh, how I loved this story - I simply didnt want it to end! The grit and darkness don't just belong to Sadie, though. This string of double negatives is actually meant as encouragement! Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. The dialect is obscure and living conditions primitive with a feel more like the 1870's than the 1970's..so backward..so uncivilized..the men so brutal and lawless, and for Sadie Blue, life seems grave. I will continue to look for references to this phrase origin and would welcome discussion to prove (one way or the other) what the original author intended to mean. The word you use for a fizzy, carbonated drink reveals a lot more about you than you know. In the 1900s, the word evolved, taking on a Southern spin as well as new meanings such as "courage" and "get-up-and-go.". But if the supposed letter was ever written, it doesnt now exist in any archive that any researcher has so far found (his letters have been published, if anybody would like to check). According to http://www.aboutnorthgeorgia.com/ang/Benjamin_Hawkins: Generally recognized as the Creek Indian agent, Benjamin Hawkins also held the title of General Superintendent of all tribes south of the Ohio River. 'Cause everything's fine, God, I wish it were . You'll most often hear it coming out of Mama's mouth when the kids are running amok. If the creek don't risewas a whimsical way of saying that the speaker would carry out some task provided that no figurative obstacle were put in his path. Copyright 2023 KAIT. Throughout the years, through these floods, weve had several roads that have washed completely out, so you just dont know whats down there.. Youd be in a real fix then. Whatscatawampus? This is a high compliment in the South, since Southern states are known for their peaches. Theres two or three creeks, he said. It's raining cats and dogs. She captures the whole Appalachian scene - the vocabulary, the falling down houses, the likker, the poverty. To understand Hawkins, I read a little further into his history. Someone once said that when you visit the South, you need a translator. Take a look here Michael: http://www.genealogynation.com/creek/. It can also be the opening to striking a bargain, sharing a strongly held opinion, or offering a piece of advice you may or may not want to hear. If you've just had a big Southern lunch, complete with cornbread, collard greens, and pecan pie, you're definitely full as a tick. Used in a sentence - If the creek don't rise and God's willing, you should be able to see this video. Cookies and privacy The swear-word equivalent would be something along the lines of No sh*t!I declare may have come from an English oath (the sworn proclamation kind) declaring that no foreign parties have power to subvert the Crown. If youre not using this phrase what are you waiting for? (KAIT) - Its been a busy 24 hours for first responders in Sharp County. So, if during the time of Benjamin Hawkins life, the Creek Indians were experiencing the longest period of peace, why would he fear that they would rise. If you hear this one, it's best to slow down. We've had a lot of delays, but Lord willing and the creek don't rise, we should have the house finished before winter. It seems this saying is a favorite expression of country singers. Just wait till you see what Granny Gladys does..with a bit of help from Mother Nature..hehehe. To cover your bases you might say, "I'll see you then if the creek don't rise." In his response, he was said to write, God willing and the Creek dont rise. Because he capitalized the word Creek it is deduced that he was referring to the Creek Indian tribe and not a body of water. January 2021: Hat tip to Maria whonotes that the collection of Benjamin Hawkinss letters has now been digitized and can be read at this link. Well, whether its Creek or creek, it would still have much of the same effectyou wont be going where you thought you would or could. For instance, I might promise to show up for Christmas at Grandmas if the good Lords willing and the creek dont rise. Does a bear shit in the woods? The tale is widely reproduced and believed nevertheless. If you've ever been caught in a summer storm, you know that you can feel, smell, and see a storm blowin' up across the wide Southern skies. Now, she admits to saying this to her children. This Southern saying, God Willing and the Creek Don't Rise. False folk etymology. Take a look at some of our favorite Southern sayings that we just couldn't live without. Note that the Creek Nation(s) did not "rise" at all. But despite its gentle execution, this story delivers some of the heaviest of punches and invites the reader to step outside of the book for a spell In the Deep South? Donate via PayPal. Variants substitute "God" or "Good Lord" (with or without "the") for "Lord", and substitute "crick" or "river" for "creek", or capitalize it as "Creek" or "Creeks" based on confusion with the Creek Indian tribe. Youre still going to the grocery store. Though youre likely to hear Southernisms such as hold your horses and pretty as a peach nationwide, youll likely only hear the following from a true Southerner. This book reminds me of that. Select your currency from the list and click Donate. !, Reckon has ancestry tracing all the way back to the 1000s (and maybe older still), and originally means to count, calculate.. (LogOut/ Every researcher who has investigated the expression has dismissed an Indian connection as untrue. I first heard of the notion of creek meaning Creek on a camping trip a couple of years ago at Barkcamp State Park in the area of Wheeling, WV. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. I always took it as a reference to the level of water in a creek. Unlike the United States Postal Service, whose motto proclaims "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night" will keep them from their routes, sometimes a Southern visit is thwarted by a rising creek or other unexpected bump in the road. She's not looking for sweets; she wants a hug and a kiss. If you refer to itno matter the brand or flavoras Coke, chances are you grew up in the South. In his reply, he was said to have written, God willing and the Creek dont rise. Andrew Jackson sent a request for reinforcements before the Battle Of New Orleans. (I would not be surprised to discover that the last contributor on your first link is none other than our own samclem.). This means that if everything continues to plan, things will be okay. Its worth looking into because of the way in which it has been elaborated in the version you quote.. And Lord have mercy, wait till you meet Birdie with her gamy birds-nest hairdo and top notch fine feathered companion Samuel.and all his buddies. Note that the Creek Nation(s) did not rise at all. All rights reserved. You may still hear it if you stop into a country store. It presumably evokes occasional and unpredictably extreme rainfall in Appalachia, that has historically isolated one rural neighborhood or another temporarily inaccessible on several or many occasions. Pot callin the kettle black. "Druthers" roughly translates to "I would rather," meaning, "If had things my way" The phrase is celebrated in song in the hilarious, Southern-inspired Broadway musical Li'l Abner, in which the title character sings "If I had my druthers, I'd druther have my druthers than anything else I know." All rights reserved.This page URL: http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-god1.htmLast modified: 25 February 2012. Her grandmother Gladys tells us of her awful past ridden with the drunkenness and senseless abuse. The New Madrid earthquake (reputedly the largest in recorded history in North America) created the division between traditionalist Creek (Red Sticks) and those more willing to seek accommodation with the majority of the tribe. Funny Phrases ben stanczyk 10/25/01 And even if it did, the initial capital letter would mean nothing, as at the time it was still common practice to capitalise all nouns. The catchphrase itself was associated with Hank Williams. Cows aren't known for their speed, and they are usually out and about, wandering until feeding time. As I was in a museum, I felt confident in repeating the knowledge to others as fact. It's a vivid phrase, and it's an accurate one too. What Do Shrove Tuesday, Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday, And Lent Mean? At the same time there is some evidence that the creation of Fort Deposit (Fort Deposite) in Georgia was a cause of concern in that munitions and arms were stockpiled. It can be summarised as "if all goes well". The History And Traditions That Make Hanukkah Light Up, Examples Of Ableist Language You May Not Realize Youre Using, Winter 2023 New Words: Everything, Everywhere, All At Once, Fall In Love With 14 Captivating Valentines Day Words, Rizz And 7 Other Slang Trends That Explain The Internet In 2023, Win With Qi And This List Of Our Best Scrabble Words, We Had ChatGPT Coin Nonsense PhrasesAnd Then We Defined Them, Surprise! We are an American people, born under the flag of independence and if the Lord is willing and the creeks dont rise, the American people who made this country will come pretty near controlling it. HARDY, Ark. Tensions between settlers and both tribes had been rising following the Treaty of Augusta and the land cessions of 1782-1783. I ate that up with a spoon and did my best to read them all. Positive thinking, Southern style. While this phrase may sound made up, it's simply our multisyllabic manner of saying something is askew. And yes, they roll their eyes, too. And, good Lord willing and the creek don't rise, come March of next year, I'll be 225 years old. 1851. The nabbit, gonnit, gummit, blasted, and burnit match the rhythm of damn it, but they can easily be modified for use as an adjective or adverb: That dagnab idiot didnt look to the dadgum left and, dadburnit, he crossed over in my dadblasted lane and dadburn near hit me. When used as a stand-alone oath, hold out on the first syllable and accentuate the second: DaaadGUMMit! He was a politician and Indian agent. Depending on where you are, youre likely to hear words combined together (gonna for going to) and different vowel sounds than youre used to, including mah for my and git for get.Git has been in use since the 16th century all over the country, but is particularly common in the South, where it appears in everything from classic literature (The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, To Kill a Mockingbird) to personal correspondence (I want you to write me as soon as you git this letter, from a letter dating back to the Civil War). "He broke bout every piece of sweet in you. It's almost always accompanied by a good-natured, perhaps slightly exasperated, shake of the head. New words appear; old ones fall out of use or alter their meanings. Here is an article that casts rather a lot of doubt on your assertion: 'God willing and the creek don't rise' M Quinion_World Wide Words: Q From Bob Scala: An item that has been floating around the internet claims that the expression 'God willing and the creek don't rise' referred to the Creek Indians, not a body of water. Its a more conditional statement of intent than come hell or high water. And I have used this page's title often-feeling quite sure I knew exactly what it meant. The saying has been attributed to Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Jackson among others, on the usual principle that attaching a famous name to a story validates it. In response to a request that he return to Washington D.C., he wrote, "God willing and the Creek don't rise." I reckon she skipped town on account of her mama being madder than a wet hen. Alongside fixin to, this is a quintessential term to strike a match under your vocab and hear it holler Yeehaw!! "Like all great southern. As they returned home, some of them also killed some settlers in the Ohio valley. Look up Lord willing and the creek don't rise in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. It was bad as all get out. All rights reserved. Something needed to fill in the gap: Yall is one solution associated with the South, with all generally serving to clarify more than one you is being addressed. It is 1970, and we follow the story of a young Appalachian girl, Sadie Blue age 17, pregnant and newly married to an evil young man who is abusive. Learn how your comment data is processed. It must surely be the creation of a fertile modern mind desiring to put the flesh of evidence on the dry bones of outright invention. The catchphrase itself was associated with Hank Williams. Feller-citizens Im not customed to public speakin before sich highfalutin audiences. Eli is the backbone of the community; all he wants is a better life for the people of Baines Creek evidenced by the succession of teachers he has procured.and been scared off, and his scheming troublemaking spinster of a sister Prudence who "don't like nobody" doesn't help matters any, but when the giant 6' 2" Kate Shaw arrives, wellthat's another story. During the early days of the War of 1812, one party of Creek marched north and joined the Indians fighting in Ohio and Michigan, participating in the River Raisin Massacre. Yes, I had heard of the Appalachians and how the culture spreads along those mountains over more than a dozen States. These skies can darken at a moment's notice, and summer afternoons often see winds churning and heavy rain clouds blowing in to cool that Southern summer heat. The saying "God willing and the Creek don't rise." Came from those traveling west in the OLD DAYS. When a fellers fixin to do something, theyre about to do it. It can be deployed sincerely, but if you're hearing "bless your heart" in the South, it probably has an edge to it. (Yes, it is terrible grammar, but that is how it is said. While there, we happened upon a museum dedicated to the Underground Railroad. The written record dates the saying from about the middle of the nineteenth century.