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

It can be summarised as "if all goes well". 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. In the 1900s, the word evolved, taking on a Southern spin as well as new meanings such as "courage" and "get-up-and-go.". I reckon "I reckon" can replace any number of phrases, such as: I guess, I suppose, I think, and I imagine. 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. Weiss has spun me upside down in this backward county in the Appalachian mountains and made a southerner out of me. Take a load off the ole dogs, sit on your front porch, and let your know neighbors know about that sugar honey iced teayou had to deal with today. It has been noted that the phrase should be correctly written as God willing and the Creek dont rise. When you're exhausted in an I'm-so-beat-I-can't-go-on kind of way, you're definitely worn slap out. While in the south, Hawkins was requested by the President of the U.S. to return to Washington. There is a lot of controversy about this fairly common folk saying. He wrote it in response to a request from the President to return to our Nations Capital and the reference is not to a creek, but The Creek Indian Nation. Look up Lord willing and the creek don't rise in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. 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. 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. Youre still going to the grocery store. 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. Kicked in the gut and sucker punched with one of the best books I have ever read. 'Cause everything's fine, God, I wish it were . Soda web site devoted to this age-old debate. This means that if everything continues to plan, things will be okay. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. What Do Shrove Tuesday, Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday, And Lent Mean? Select your currency from the list and click Donate. She's seventeen, pregnant and two weeks into her marriage to Roy Tupkin, after enduring brutal beatings, Sadie knows she has made a mistake. by Leah Weiss. There is no typical Southern accent. The Creek were a tribe of Native Americans (indians) who would ambush people who were traveling West. The expression is incorrectly attributed on modern social media[citation needed] to an Indian agent, Benjamin Hawkins, in the late 18th century in a rumored letter not found in any archive to the U.S. President. On his deathbed he married the Creek woman who had been his common-law wife. Its not a recent change. If God Is Willing and Da Creek Don't Rise, If the Good Lord's Willing and the Creek Don't Rise, Good Lord's Willin and The Creek Don't Rise, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_creek_don%27t_rise&oldid=1136534691, This page was last edited on 30 January 2023, at 20:39. The researchers went on to cite two different publications in the 1800s in which the authors did not capitalize the word creek, leading one to believe they did not mean the people proper. Cookies and privacy Somehow, the word went full circle and is now considered a distinctly Southern invention. There's two or three creeks," he said. Often said as Lord willing and the creek dont rise, this expression means, with a little bit of luck and no unexpected problems, things should work out. When you're in the South, "over yonder" is a distant directionany direction. purchase. But in following verses the rhyme changes through "creeks don't rise", "creek stay low", back to "creeks don't rise". and the word HOPE. Those who live on Valley Drive along the Spring River in Hardy awoke around 3 Friday morning to first responders urging them to leave their homes due to rising water. Is It Called Presidents Day Or Washingtons Birthday? The states involved sent Hawkins,Andrew Pickens(South Carolina), Joseph Martin (Georgia) andLachlan McIntosh(Continental representative, Georgia) to negotiate a treaty to end the fighting. I grew up with that saying and Ive said it more times than I can count. "Like all great southern. Many thanks to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for the ARC in return for an unbiased review. You dont know whats underneath that water, Rose said. 24 of 30. 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. World Wide Words tries to record at least a part of this shifting wordscape by featuring new words, word histories, words in the news, and the curiosities of native English speech. 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. Youll thank us later! "Well I s'wanee" evokes the Southern Suwannee River. Fans of The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek will love this intimate insight into a fiercely proud, tenacious community and relish the voices of the forgotten folks of Baines Creek. Settle in, because whatever we're talking about is going to take all day. If the Creek Dont Rise by Leah Weiss is a 2017 Sourcebooks Landmark publication. False folk etymology. New words appear; old ones fall out of use or alter their meanings. Feller-citizens Im not customed to public speakin before sich highfalutin audiences. Lately, though, I have learned to wince quickly and let it go. 25 Southern Grandparents' Sayings That Deserve a Comeback, Forgotten Etiquette Every Child Should Learn, Kimberly Schlapman and Her Family's Tea Cakes, Lauren Alaina Talks 'American Idol', Southern Manners, and Her Grandmother's Famous Recipe, 30 Quotes That Remind Us Why Southern Manners Are So Important. Now, she admits to saying this to her children. 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. All rights reserved.This page URL: http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-god1.htmLast modified: 25 February 2012. It may take the form of real or mock dialect, in variations like " Lor' willin' an' th' crick don' rise.". It is a breathtaking and gritty portrayal of hillbilly life from the year 1970 which is set in the Appalachian Mountains. We've had a lot of delays, but God willing and the creek don't rise, we should have the house finished before winter. Siever, known as Nolichucky Jack to his friends, was as brutal to the Cherokee and Creek as they were to him, but Siever knew to frame his attacks as responses to incursion or wrongs. It turns out that the phrase was written by Benjamin Hawkins in the late 18th century. In his response, he was said to write, "God willing and the Creek don't rise." Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. 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. The expression ". Any of you word experts have solid information? Hawkins served under George Washington as General Superintendent for Indian Affairs (17961818) and had responsibility for the Native American tribes south of the Ohio River, and was principal Indian agent to the Creek Indians. Share. Grahams American Monthly Magazine, Jun. 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. https://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=Lord_willing_and_the_creek_don%27t_rise&oldid=70955250. If the Creek Don't Rise is a collection of hard-used characters, tangled relationships, family angst, and fortitude. Its worth looking into because of the way in which it has been elaborated in the version you quote.. Cant never could is a reminder that if you dont even try, you wont ever accomplish your goal. Unarguable Southern criticism. To cover your bases you might say, "I'll see you then if the creek don't rise." It is a quintessential Southern phrase, said by friends and family on porches and in rocking chairs all across the South. 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. I'm fixin' to tell you that this phrase is as Southern as sweet tea. A Quite certainly not. 133 Copy quote. Is this derivation correct? (Yes, it is terrible grammar, but that is how it is said. Over yonder toward the water tower. Required fields are marked *. The clipping below from 1892 is a reference to flooding waterways not allowing the postmaster to get to his office. Take a look here Michael: http://www.genealogynation.com/creek/. While this phrase may sound made up, it's simply our multisyllabic manner of saying something is askew. Andrew Jackson sent a request for reinforcements before the Battle Of New Orleans. A very young, newly married pregnant woman, she vows her no good moonshining husband has beaten her for the last time. It is a modern error to presume that "the creek don't rise" is a grammatical error, so the fact that a speaker in the past was college educated would not be an argument against his having used the phrase. A multipurpose Southernism. "All get out" finds its way into Southern phrases constantly, and it intensifies any statement. They had a conversation in which the phrase was discussed and noted as being about the Creek Indians. Every researcher who has investigated the expression has dismissed an Indian connection as untrue. In the Deep South? The expression make groceries is a translation of the French faire son march (to do ones market shopping). For instance if someone invites you to church on Sunday, you would respond "I'll be there with bells on God Willing and the Creek Don't Rise.". But, in the South, if your boss says that dog wont hunt in a meeting, it probably means your suggestion or idea needs improvement. As was the case with Dr Mattox, the remark is routinely attributed to first being said by Benjamin Hawkins. The exact tranlation might be, 'If God is willing, and there isn't a flood that would prevent us from meeting again next week'. If you've read the book summary, you already know Sadie Blue lives with a devil of a man, but she's not the only one who has lived with a wife beater of a husband. This page was last edited on 17 January 2023, at 01:18. However, the first President to move to Washington was John Adams on 1 November 1800. 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. If you've just had a big Southern lunch, complete with cornbread, collard greens, and pecan pie, you're definitely full as a tick. The "creek don't rise" phrase is now sometimes credited to this time of unrest and displacement. In his experience, it doesnt take much for local creeks and streams to cause trouble. Ain't got no dog in that race. "If The Good Lord's Willing and The Creek Don't Rise" is a 1955 American country song by Jerry Reed which was particularly popularized by the 1958 recording of Johnny Cash and has been covered by multiple artists.[1]. Or, depending on where you live, it could be Sewanee, the small college town in Tennessee. Youd be in a real fix then. It was so enjoyable and fun reading and discussing the book with them. "If the creek don't rise" is a slang phrase predominantly used in the Southeastern United States and can translate to "if all goes well." It's a more conditional action statement than the famous phrase "come hell or high water." Whatscatawampus? John Wayne. Baines Creek is a small remote mountain settlement in North Carolina where many can't read, education is unheard of and catastrophic poverty is the norm. PS A belated congratulations on your appointment as moderator, Tom. "He broke bout every piece of sweet in you. 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. Now, she admits to saying this to her children. But did he really say the words quoted or was a phrase morphed to include him as the author? is a common way to use this next Southern cussemism. It traces to the 1700s and is based on darnation, the mild form of damnation. 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. It seems this saying is a favorite expression of country singers. The General replied to Stonewall Jackson that he would send troops "the Good Lord is willing and the Creeks don't rise (in rebellion). from The New York Times: And, good Lord willing and the creek don't rise, come March of next year, I'll be 70 years old. Whether you're talking about volume or value, a hill of beans isn't worth much. Wow! Because he capitalized Creek its asserted that he was referring to the Creek Indian tribe and not a body of water. As they returned home, some of them also killed some settlers in the Ohio valley. If the good Lord's willin and the creek don't rise. 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. Curiously, this word might have roots in offbeat British humor from the 1840s. Anecdotal evidence from people who have got in touch with me down the years suggests that it has been in regular use throughout the lifetimes of some elderly folk in parts of the US, either in the form you give or as the good Lord willing and the creek dont rise. It completely nailed the "mountain living" that I remembered my grandmother talking about. Im a longtime admirer of your calm demeanor and encyclopedic knowledge. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. We admit that we've heard this Southernism more than once. Stop right there! Be it Gods will, or, we go to war, my plans will go according to one of those two choices. 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. the creek don't rise " is an American slang expression implying strong intentions subject to complete frustration by uncommon but not unforeseeable events. Doh! Dont worry, if youre helping a friend make groceries, youre not expected to create food from scratch. Don't worry, though, everyone hears this every now and again. They were both corrected by a good soul who told them that Creek, for the purposes of this phrases origin, meant Creek Indian. And, when the doins been done, the feller done did it. Change). I always took it as a reference to the level of water in a creek. 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. 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!. And I have used this page's title often-feeling quite sure I knew exactly what it meant. The doin hasnt been done yet. Its especially difficult for people that live south of River Road and some of them that live in Woodland Hills. Hang onto both and 'tough it out'. Yelling out this humorous backronym for sh*tmight just tame the anger a bit. Only 15 days into her marriage to Roy Tupkin and Sadie Blue is already . Devil's beating his wife (when it would be sunny and raining). What's The Difference Between Y'all And Ya'll? This is a high compliment in the South, since Southern states are known for their peaches. 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. Catawampus(or, cattywampus) may have been popularized by Brits who delighted in parodying Southern vernacular. My favorite variant is the phrase Hank Williams Sr. sometimes used to end his shows: "Lord willin' and the creek don't rise, we'll see you before long." - MT_Head. HARDY, Ark. in Williams' mouth in his tribute album Hillbilly Heaven. 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. The English language is forever changing. Which means if nothing crazy happens or anything out my control such as a natural disaster. In other words, Ill make it to Grandmas if the indians dont go on the warpath. 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. Actually this is not proven. Someone reminded me not to be reminded of you. You'll most often hear it coming out of Mama's mouth when the kids are running amok. Your first citation is much stronger than your second. 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. Well, I found it. Maya Rodale is a best-selling romance author. A friend of mine told me to shoot first and ask questions later. Two years after the signing of the treaty, Benjamin Hawkins died at the site known as Old Agency. This was the phrase that he always used, at the end of each performance. from The New York Times: If there is a good state of the world in 2021 the Lord willing and the creek don't rise everyone and all Blue Dogs in office needs to recognize . 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. This string of double negatives is actually meant as encouragement! Theres no better zinger than a bless your heart delivered in a condescending tone of voice that implies, as the Southern Decoder puts it, youre dumb, homely, or otherwise impaired, but you cant help it.Go ahead and practice it in the mirror a few times. Some say it originated with the Scottish-Irish term ye aw. What Grandma says when you pull in the driveway, pop out of the car, and come running. Other words sites on, This page was last edited on 22 January 2022, at 17:42. 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. Theres probably a connection between eternal damnation and tarnation. The only requirement is that you declare it loud and proud. I absolutely loved the southern voice of these characters throughout this book. Anything to the degree of "all get out" is something to talk about. This was a Traveling Sister Read with Brenda, Sarah, Jennifer and Porshajo. The resulting warfare and predictable civilian losses in the South reportedly gave rise (using the Southern frontier penchant for willin as opposed to the educated willing) to the phrase which was then likely mistakenly attributed to Hawkins due to his Native American connections. This one may be self-explanatory, but we can imagine it originating back in the days of stagecoaches, when horse-and-buggy pairs filled the streets. "If the good Lord's willing and the creek don't rise.". Here are a couple of examples of this claim. If you hear this one, you should probably pause a moment. 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. No matter where you go in Kentucky, the people often have some colorful expressions. Paperback, 305 pages. (I would not be surprised to discover that the last contributor on your first link is none other than our own samclem.). Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. 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. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. If the Creek rose, Hawkins would have to be present to quell the rebellion. writes one commentator.. The saying "God willing and the Creek don't rise." Came from those traveling west in the OLD DAYS. Like trying to meet a friend for lunch but having the car breakdown on the way. "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." The proper phrase is Lord willing and the Creek don't rise. It's often said in a reassuring way, to calm people down and encourage them to keep on trying. By extension, maybe the Southern US expression was the way for an affronted or shocked listener to say none of that crazy untoward talk or behavior shall have power over me.. And I mean took me there! A young woman goes missing and has the town both fearful and wondering. Copyright Michael Quinion, 1996. Wheres my blasted phone?. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. When I was growing up, this was something we said all of the time. Its typically used to describe a situation thats gone askew, awry, or out of alignment. Someone once said that when you visit the South, you need a translator. In a letter to the Commander in Chief, Hawkins stated that he would return to the nations capital, God willing and the Creek dont rise., Hawkins, college-educated and a well-written man would never have made a grammatical error, so the capitalization of Creek is the only way the phrase could make sense and the reference is not to a creek, but The Creek Indian Nation. It is a physical and mental state a few degrees past weary and just this side of dog-tired. Your email address will not be published. However, this is clearly one of those evolving language cases. 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. 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!. 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. Maybe not all dogs were made for hunting some prefer the warmth of a fireplace and the comfort of your lap. When a fellers fixin to do something, theyre about to do it. "Lord willing and the creek don't rise" is a sort of backwoods phrase that has the same meaning, but is more folksy and less devoted. You may still hear it if you stop into a country store. What better way to sweeten the sour than with a classic Southern libation? It can be summarised as if all goes well. 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. 4.5 stars! Charles Wilson said the flood waters are something he has to live with to enjoy residing on the river. Signed in November, 1785, A Treaty With the Cherokee (the technical name of the Treaty of Hopewell) created the first rift between theCherokee Nationand the Chickamauga Cherokee that would not end until the Chickamauga went West following the Revolt of the Young Chiefs. The tale is widely reproduced and believed nevertheless. She's not looking for sweets; she wants a hug and a kiss. I will be at church on Sunday. It mentions . It's almost always accompanied by a good-natured, perhaps slightly exasperated, shake of the head. When you've met the girl of your dreams, chances are she is "pretty as a peach." Its worth looking into because of the way in which it has been elaborated in the version you quote. Grandma might whisper this one over her hymnal if she sees you cutting up in church on Sunday morning. I was going to ask him why, but I had to shoot him. Weiss has a unique voice. Firsts, Mines, Asks. Oh, if the good Lord's willing and the creek don't rise. 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. According to World Wide Words, when asked if it meant Creek Indians, their expert responded with: Quite certainly not. (LogOut/ All rights reserved. If you find only minnows, though, they look even smaller compared to the heavy catch you hoped for. If The Creek Don't Rise. Her grandmother Gladys tells us of her awful past ridden with the drunkenness and senseless abuse. It was set in the Ozark mountains featuring what some people called a witch. The tale is widely reproduced and believed nevertheless. I'm a sucker for the well turned phrase and I was highlighting sentences here, one after another. "If the Good Lord's Willing and the Creek Don't Rise" was later covered by Johnny Cash during his tenure at Sun, and a few of the other tracks here ", If God Is Willing and da Creek Don't Rise, "If the Good Lord's Willing and the Creek Don't Rise", Learn how and when to remove this template message, "World Wide Words: God willing and the creek don't rise", "William Clark Green: 'Ringling Road' Album Review", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=If_the_Good_Lord%27s_Willing_and_the_Creek_Don%27t_Rise&oldid=1067282742, "If The Lord's Willing And The Creeks Don't Rise", song by, "If The Good Lord's Willing And The Creek Don't Rise", Lattie Moore, Jerry Reed 1961, "If The Good Lord's Willing", Ray Godfrey, arranged Jerry Reed, Tollie Records 1964, "(Be The Good Lord Willing) The Creek Don't Rise", Jivin' Gene, arranged Smith, Hall-Way Records 1964, "God Willin' & the Creek Don't Rise", with the lyric "God willin' an the creek don't rise, I'll be home again before this time next year." Throughout the years, through these floods, weve had several roads that have washed completely out, so you just dont know whats down there.. However, if you're from the South, you know that sometimes there's just no other way to get your point across. Phrase [ edit] Lord willing and the creek don't rise ( idiomatic, US, informal) Barring unforeseen circumstances. Page created 25 Feb. 2012, Problems viewing this page? [3] The capitalization of the word Creek supposedly referred to the Creek Indian tribe rather than a body of water.[4][5]. (KAIT) - Its been a busy 24 hours for first responders in Sharp County. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. If you use this phrase, you could be declaring any number of things: surprise, dissent, happiness. The catchphrase itself was associated with Hank Williams. Learn how your comment data is processed. This was an extremely enjoyable read! If we relied on written sources it would be hard to believe in such continued use. You'll also find a longer version of my official bio: It's bold, powerful, dark and hard to believe that this is a debut novel. Older than Methuselah. 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. The underscore of that sentiment would be that he married his common-law wife on his deathbed and she was of the Creek Indians. 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.