if the creek don't rise saying

Theres probably a connection between eternal damnation and tarnation. A strikingly sincere portrait of a town and its buried secrets from an outstanding new voice in southern fiction. Charles Wilson said the flood waters are something he has to live with to enjoy residing on the river. 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. 132 Copy quote. Youre still going to the grocery store. 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. 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. This article about the English language is a stub. Affixes dictionary. 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. This means that if everything continues to plan, things will be okay. Note that the Creek Nation(s) did not "rise" at all. And, when the doins been done, the feller done did it. 1851. You might say cocola. An odd few (6% of Americans) do use soft drink, according to the Pop vs. 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. Chief Rose is asking drivers to be cautious while out and about. 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. 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. And yes, I have heard the music of this culture and watched the dancing. (the good) Lord willing and the creek don't rise rural If all goes as it should; if everything goes well. A: "Do you reckon we'll have enough from this harvest to make ends meet?" B: "God willing and the creek don't rise." From the present day of the story in 1970 to flashbacks of the past and dreams, these various points of view give us a vivid picture of this place and the people who live there. 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. It mentions . Sign up for writing inspiration in your email, , Scarlett OHara says: I do declare, Frank Kennedy, if you dont look dashing with that new set of whiskers!, The distinct English dialect of the American South, which has a close relationship with Black English (African American Vernacular English), is fascinatingand plenty lively. Cookies and privacy Apparently Carter had a great many pills, because the phrase found its way into the Southern vocabulary. What better way to sweeten the sour than with a classic Southern libation? Now, she admits to saying this to her children. This is a high compliment in the South, since Southern states are known for their peaches. The underscore of that sentiment would be that he married his common-law wife on his deathbed and she was of the Creek Indians. Lately, though, I have learned to wince quickly and let it go. 1851. (Yes, it is terrible grammar, but that is how it is said. Jan 29, 2014 at 19:34 . Werefixin to tell you more Southernisms, and now were doing just that. There is no reason to suppose the Indian variant is true. The second contributor on the AOL site is simply repeating things without any understanding. "All get out" finds its way into Southern phrases constantly, and it intensifies any statement. If you refer to itno matter the brand or flavoras Coke, chances are you grew up in the South. Is this derivation correct? 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!. https://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=Lord_willing_and_the_creek_don%27t_rise&oldid=70955250. 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. The word you use for a fizzy, carbonated drink reveals a lot more about you than you know. The 1800s and 1900s were much simpler times, as people didn't have the luxuries afforded in modern times. Ireckon is the way many Southerners get to surmising about something or other. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Often said as "Lord willing and the creek don't rise," this expression means, with a little bit of luck and no unexpected problems, things should work out. 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. Settle in, because whatever we're talking about is going to take all day. "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." 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. 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. 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. (LogOut/ If you've just had a big Southern lunch, complete with cornbread, collard greens, and pecan pie, you're definitely full as a tick. Im a longtime admirer of your calm demeanor and encyclopedic knowledge. It's true, we do have a mouthful of sayings that only Southerners understand. DeSantis's year-long quest to strip Disney of its self-rule came after the entertainment giant, and Florida's . If you use this phrase, you could be declaring any number of things: surprise, dissent, happiness. Older than Methuselah. What Do Shrove Tuesday, Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday, And Lent Mean? QFrom Bob Scala: An item that has been floating around the internet claims that the expression God willing and the creek dont rise referred to the Creek Indians, not a body of water. Is It Called Presidents Day Or Washingtons Birthday? To understand Hawkins, I read a little further into his history. It was so enjoyable and fun reading and discussing the book with them. You may still hear it if you stop into a country store. It is a quintessential Southern phrase, said by friends and family on porches and in rocking chairs all across the South. No matter where you go in Kentucky, the people often have some colorful expressions. Throughout the years, through these floods, weve had several roads that have washed completely out, so you just dont know whats down there.. We've had a lot of delays, but God willing and the creek don't rise, we should have the house finished before winter. Like trying to meet a friend for lunch but having the car breakdown on the way. If you find only minnows, though, they look even smaller compared to the heavy catch you hoped for. While in the south, Hawkins was requested by the President of the U.S. to return to Washington. 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. It took a further decade for it to become popular as a supposedly hayseed utterance, sometimes as and the crick dont rise to reflect a regional form. Its worth looking into because of the way in which it has been elaborated in the version you quote. Unarguable Southern criticism. So the saying came about like we'll be there.God willing and the Creek (indians) don't rise..to stop us. It can be summarised as if all goes well. Let me love you again, give me one more try. The thing isI read one that I have never stopped thinking about. This Southern saying, God Willing and the Creek Don't Rise. But in following verses the rhyme changes through "creeks don't rise", "creek stay low", back to "creeks don't rise". HARDY, Ark. In the Deep South? in Williams' mouth in his tribute album Hillbilly Heaven. 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. The request was to a general that had troops near Horseshoe Bend Alabama, protecting settlers against a Creek Indian uprising. Georgia-born blogger Jennifer Collins says she always rolled her eyes when her mom said this to her. Yelling out this humorous backronym for sh*tmight just tame the anger a bit. Learn how your comment data is processed. It's often said in a reassuring way, to calm people down and encourage them to keep on trying. Since we'd never dare hang up the phone while Mama's chatting away, this may be the only way to end your conversation in a timely manner. A very young, newly married pregnant woman, she vows her no good moonshining husband has beaten her for the last time. Every researcher who has investigated the expression has dismissed an Indian connection as untrue. She captures the whole Appalachian scene - the vocabulary, the falling down houses, the likker, the poverty. Its typically used to describe a situation thats gone askew, awry, or out of alignment. 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. In the 1900s, the word evolved, taking on a Southern spin as well as new meanings such as "courage" and "get-up-and-go.". After eating a big, delicious Southern dinner Granny just made, you have to finish up with a slice of sweet potato pie, right? Many thanks to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for the ARC in return for an unbiased review. And really, wouldn't we all druther have our druthers? Origin debaters point to Col. Benjamin Hawkins of North Carolina, a Continental Congress senator. "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. The clipping below from 1892 is a reference to flooding waterways not allowing the postmaster to get to his office. Learn how your comment data is processed. Its especially difficult for people that live south of River Road and some of them that live in Woodland Hills. 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. New words appear; old ones fall out of use or alter their meanings. False folk etymology. Get help and learn more about the design. I always took it as a reference to the level of water in a creek. "Well I s'wanee" evokes the Southern Suwannee River. In fact, Georgia and South Carolina produce more peaches than any other states in the South. Someone once said that when you visit the South, you need a translator. A different style for the story telling in this as we hear from many of the people in this town and Sadie Blues own story is woven through the fabric of theirs. 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. 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. According to World Wide Words, when asked if it meant Creek Indians, their expert responded with: " Quite certainly not. Turn around, and please dont drive through it. From the start there's been a film of dingy on my days.. 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 is sometimes thought that the word "Creek" instead refers to the Creek Indians, but this is unlikely. God willing and the creek don't rise If all goes as it should; if everything goes well. 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. "If the good Lord's willing and the creek don't rise.". In his reply, he was said to have written, God willing and the Creek dont rise. All rights reserved.This page URL: http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-god1.htmLast modified: 25 February 2012. Southerners tell it like it isno matter what it isso think of this as a learning moment. A Quite certainly not. Grahams American Monthly Magazine, Jun. If you think you can't, you won't be able to accomplish something, but if you think you can, you'll succeed. Her grandmother Gladys tells us of her awful past ridden with the drunkenness and senseless abuse. 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. The Lafayette gazette(Louisiana), 3 Nov. 1894. Its a one-size-fits-all reply that can both express sympathy and insult someone, depending on the delivery. I'm fixin' to tell you that this phrase is as Southern as sweet tea. When you're exhausted in an I'm-so-beat-I-can't-go-on kind of way, you're definitely worn slap out. Someone kicked in with we say cricks. In his experience, it doesnt take much for local creeks and streams to cause trouble. 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. When you're in the South, "over yonder" is a distant directionany direction. DeSantis ends Disney's free reign over Florida's "Don't Say Gay" bill. Copy furnished by Net Galley for the price of a review. Somehow, the word went full circle and is now considered a distinctly Southern invention. On his deathbed he married the Creek woman who had been his common-law wife. There is no typical Southern accent. Translated, it means, "He sure does think a lot of himself." All rights reserved. Its not a recent change. The only requirement is that you declare it loud and proud. Youve heard that old saying, Ill be there if the creek dont rise? Well, theyve all risen, and a lot of people are staying home because of that.. Be it Gods will, or, we go to war, my plans will go according to one of those two choices. You dont know whats underneath that water, Rose said. "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." But did he really say the words quoted or was a phrase morphed to include him as the author? And, good Lord willing and the creek don't rise, come March of next year, I'll be 225 years old. You will have spotted that neither of these capitalises creek, which suggests they didnt have the Creek people in mind. 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. As they returned home, some of them also killed some settlers in the Ohio valley. Used in a sentence - If the creek don't rise and God's willing, you should be able to see this video. Do You Know These Sizzlin Southern Sayings. In Gone With the Wind, Scarlett OHara says: I do declare, Frank Kennedy, if you dont look dashing with that new set of whiskers!. No bigger than a minnow in a fishing pond is as tiny as can be. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. A true Southern tradition. If the Creek Dont Rise by Leah Weiss is a 2017 Sourcebooks Landmark publication. by Leah Weiss. At the time Hawkins was Congressman, he joined other well known Southeastern American leaders in negotiating a major treaty with the Creek and Cherokee at the South Carolina city of Hopewell. When you arrive on the banks of the fishing pond on Saturday mornings, you're hoping for a good catchenough big catfish and bream to fry up for the family on Saturday night. 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 approximately 20,000 Creek Indians that still exist reside in Oklahoma. Cant never could is a reminder that if you dont even try, you wont ever accomplish your goal. 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. It's a vivid phrase, and it's an accurate one too. From another source Some historians attribute Benjamin Hawkins as having been the first person to ever say these words and he did so in a letter to the President of the United States. Other words sites While in the south, Hawkins was requested by the President of the U.S. to return to Washington. It completely nailed the "mountain living" that I remembered my grandmother talking about. If The Creek Don't Rise is a unique novel whose structure feels light and breezy and veers drastically from the standard formula found in fiction. "We plan to be there," we might say, and then add on a quick, "Lord willing and the creek don't rise." It's another way of saying, "I am dead serious about keeping my word on this, short of a hurricane or earthquake." In other words, I'm doggedly committed to this unless the devil stops me. The expression make groceries is a translation of the French faire son march (to do ones market shopping). Runnin around like a chicken with it's head . 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. An exclamationof surprise, anger, happiness, really any emotionthat is appropriate in nearly every Southern scenario. 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. 4.5 stars! the creek don't rise. If someone tells you that you've got gumption, you should thank them, and then walk a little taller, because you've received a lovely Southern compliment. Curiously, this word might have roots in offbeat British humor from the 1840s. The tale is widely reproduced and believed nevertheless. Though youre likely to hear Southernisms such as. 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. 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!! Look up Lord willing and the creek don't rise in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. Accents vary by regionand sometimes even city to city. 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. PS A belated congratulations on your appointment as moderator, Tom. This book reminds me of that. If the creek dont rise was a whimsical way of saying that the speaker would carry out some task provided that no figurative obstacle were put in his path. 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. Because he capitalized Creek its asserted that he was referring to the Creek Indian tribe and not a body of water. 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).. 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. However, if you're from the South, you know that sometimes there's just no other way to get your point across. Grandma might whisper this one over her hymnal if she sees you cutting up in church on Sunday morning. "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." 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. I've never forgotten it and it's drove me nuts because I would love a copy of it. Stop right there! A handful of rivers and streams will be out of their banks by Friday evening and Saturday morning. 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. 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. There, we listened to amazing stories told by Dr. John Mattox. If the Creek rose, Hawkins would have to be present to quell the rebellion. writes one commentator.. I ate that up with a spoon and did my best to read them all. 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. Farmers know that if you do something 'til the cows come home, it's going to take all day. If the creek rises, travel will be impossible and Ill never get to Grannys. Doh! Some say it originated with the Scottish-Irish term ye aw. If so, you know that being madder than a wet hen is very mad indeed. Does a bear shit in the woods? A sister who is afraid of losing her brother and Sadie's grandmother and aunt, all tell their stories adding to Sadie's own. 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. [1][2], Classic versions of its use tend to be along the lines of "The good Lord willing, and the creek doesn't rise"i.e. Given that many small farm streams were crossed without bridges, which worked find most of the time, a swollen stream would cause problems. You Cant Use These English Words In The UK, Understanding Black History: 10 Terms That Illuminate The Black Experience In The US. 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. For instance, I might promise to show up for Christmas at Grandmas if the good Lords willing and the creek dont rise. A rising creek could spell trouble, as it can lead to flooding and other issues. This is a point of emphasis and exclamation that often ends without any additional telling at all. Quick, what do you call a soft drink? 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. And I have used this page's title often-feeling quite sure I knew exactly what it meant. Im told it was a sign-off tag line of the 1930s US radio broadcaster Bradley Kincaid. Well, at least we thought we did.but maybe not. Well, I found it. 15. "The Good Lord willing and the 'creek' don't rise" is just one of them. A multipurpose Southernism. The English language is forever changing. Where did this contraction, popular in both African American English and Southern American English, come from? Eventually, you became a singular pronoun, and we lost the plural pronouns. Andrew Jackson sent a request for reinforcements before the Battle Of New Orleans. Required fields are marked *. A preacher who hires a very different kind of woman than is usually found in these parts. The catchphrase itself was associated with Hank Williams. Copyright Michael Quinion, 1996. Select your currency from the list and click Donate. The proper phrase is Lord willing and the Creek don't rise. It has been noted that the phrase should be correctly written as God willing and the Creek dont rise. 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. This United Statesrelated article is a stub. 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. I was surprised as all get out. But, in the South, if your boss says that dog wont hunt in a meeting, it probably means your suggestion or idea needs improvement. I've been in a slump of just ok books and was craving one that was special. 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!. "Like all great southern. If the Creek Don't Rise Quotes Showing 1-14 of 14 "Times like these I wonder if I ever been happy. 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. They were both corrected by a good soul who told them that Creek, for the purposes of this phrases origin, meant Creek Indian. "Creek" originated as a reference to creeks flooding and preventing travel, but is sometimes re-interpreted as a reference to the Creek tribe. Translated, this means: "We'll be there unless something out of our control stops us." Who better to write about the risks of the Creek rising in revolt? Only 15 days into her marriage to Roy Tupkin and Sadie Blue is already . Kicked in the gut and sucker punched with one of the best books I have ever read. If you think you can't, you won't be able to accomplish something, but if you think you can, you'll succeed.

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