He was a politician and Indian agent. If the good Lord's willin and the creek don't rise. The second contributor on the AOL site is simply repeating things without any understanding. The Creek were a tribe of Native Americans (indians) who would ambush people who were traveling West. Does a bear shit in the woods? And yes, I have heard the music of this culture and watched the dancing. Have you ever seen a wet hen? What in tarnation? This string of double negatives is actually meant as encouragement! I will be at church on Sunday. "All get out" finds its way into Southern phrases constantly, and it intensifies any statement. Some newspaper clippings are harder to determine which meaning they meant. You'll most often hear it coming out of Mama's mouth when the kids are running amok. 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. I've never forgotten it and it's drove me nuts because I would love a copy of it. 15. 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. You dont know whats underneath that water, Rose said. 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. A Quite certainly not. The doin hasnt been done yet. I grew up with that saying and Ive said it more times than I can count. Anytime it rains as hard as it did last night, it always brings back fears of having to face something like we did in 1984, he said. It is a quintessential Southern phrase, said by friends and family on porches and in rocking chairs all across the South. This one originates from the 19th century, when Carter Products marketed "Little Liver Pills" across the country. 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. Youll thank us later! "He broke bout every piece of sweet in you. Translated, this means: "We'll be there unless something out of our control stops us." It may take the form of real or mock dialect, in variations like " Lor' willin' an' th' crick don' rise.". Thats a mouthful, but we lumped these all together because they are allsubstitutes for (God) d*mn it. What Grandma says when you pull in the driveway, pop out of the car, and come running. For instance, I might promise to show up for Christmas at Grandmas if the good Lords willing and the creek dont rise. in Williams' mouth in his tribute album Hillbilly Heaven. Instead of "Well, I swear," Southerners have adopted a geographically inspired alternative. This page was last edited on 17 January 2023, at 01:18. 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. And, when the doins been done, the feller done did it. It mentions Benjamin Hawkins of the late 18th century, who was asked by the US president to go back to Washington. We've had a lot of delays, but God willing and the creek don't rise, we should have the house finished before winter. Donate via PayPal. Whether you're talking about volume or value, a hill of beans isn't worth much. The word you use for a fizzy, carbonated drink reveals a lot more about you than you know. If you're trying to be nice, but you just can't quite let it go, "bless your heart" is a go-to. 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. Its worth looking into because of the way in which it has been elaborated in the version you quote.. All rights reserved. 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. (the good) Lord willing and the creek don't rise rural If all goes as it should; if everything goes well. And yes, they roll their eyes, too. 1851. Yes, I had heard of the Appalachians and how the culture spreads along those mountains over more than a dozen States. Its especially difficult for people that live south of River Road and some of them that live in Woodland Hills. Like trying to meet a friend for lunch but having the car breakdown on the way. All rights reserved. Andrew Jackson sent a request for reinforcements before the Battle Of New Orleans. [2] In the Reed song and Cash cover the verses vary the rhyme, so the opening line commences: If the good Lord's willing and the creek stays down I'll be in your arms time the moon come around. To cover your bases you might say, "I'll see you then if the creek don't rise." Powered by Discourse, best viewed with JavaScript enabled, origin of phrase - "if the creek don't rise". It can be summarised as "if all goes well". Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. If The Creek Don't Rise. Funny Phrases ben stanczyk 10/25/01 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. A friend of mine told me to shoot first and ask questions later. Take a look at some of our favorite Southern sayings that we just couldn't live without. 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!! Youd be in a real fix then. You might say cocola. In Gone With the Wind, Scarlett OHara says: I do declare, Frank Kennedy, if you dont look dashing with that new set of whiskers!. A true Southern tradition. When the road looks rough ahead, remember the 'Man upstairs'. In his reply, he was said to have written, God willing and the Creek dont rise. Unarguable Southern criticism. The clipping below from 1892 is a reference to flooding waterways not allowing the postmaster to get to his office. Just wait till you see what Granny Gladys does..with a bit of help from Mother Nature..hehehe. However, if you're from the South, you know that sometimes there's just no other way to get your point across. Historians and etymologists may cringe, but the modern usage of Lord willin and the creek (or crick) dont rise is about the stream, not the Creek tribe. The most interesting often hail from our older generations, such as the WWII era and those raised by them. 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. 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. "If the good Lord's willing and the creek don't rise.". And really, wouldn't we all druther have our druthers? It mentions . 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.". A multipurpose Southernism. Settle in, because whatever we're talking about is going to take all day. Someone kicked in with we say cricks. Given that many small farm streams were crossed without bridges, which worked find most of the time, a swollen stream would cause problems. If you use this phrase, you could be declaring any number of things: surprise, dissent, happiness. the creek don't rise. Leah Weiss introduces her extraordinary characters as chapters unfold and each one has their own peculiarity. John Wayne. "The Good Lord willing and the 'creek' don't rise" is just one of them. You gonna do nothing?". 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. Well, hells bells. 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. Some say it originated with the Scottish-Irish term ye aw. If you've just had a big Southern lunch, complete with cornbread, collard greens, and pecan pie, you're definitely full as a tick. It's true, we do have a mouthful of sayings that only Southerners understand. The tale is widely reproduced and believed nevertheless. If you hear this one, it's best to slow down. Although he admits when the rain starts to fall, it makes him a little nervous. Cant never could is a reminder that if you dont even try, you wont ever accomplish your goal. Select your currency from the list and click Donate. 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. (LogOut/ Thats exactly who I was hoping would reply to my question. There is a lot of controversy about this fairly common folk saying. 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. https://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=Lord_willing_and_the_creek_don%27t_rise&oldid=70955250. In response to a request that he return to Washington D.C., he wrote, "God willing and the Creek don't rise." Southerners tell it like it isno matter what it isso think of this as a learning moment. I was reading a post on one of the West Virginia pages that I follow in which a person referenced God willing and the creeks dont rise. in reference to rain and floods. It turns out that the phrase was written by Benjamin Hawkins in the late 18th century. Some say farmers used to dunk their hens when they got broody. The saying "God willing and the Creek don't rise." Came from those traveling west in the OLD DAYS. 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. While in the south, Hawkins was requested by the President of the U.S. to return to Washington. 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. 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. Gumption is spirit, courage, spunk, boldness, and initiative. The General replied to Stonewall Jackson that he would send troops "the Good Lord is willing and the Creeks don't rise (in rebellion). Translated, it means, "He sure does think a lot of himself." Youre still going to the grocery store. the creek don't rise " is an American slang expression implying strong intentions subject to complete frustration by uncommon but not unforeseeable events. Don't worry, though, everyone hears this every now and again. Now, she admits to saying this to her children. What is the origin of the phrase the good Lord willing and the creek dont rise? Your email address will not be published. Back when I was in the fourth grade we had an English teacher who dumped a box of books out one day and told us to read them and do book reports. Do You Know These Sizzlin Southern Sayings. Is It Called Presidents Day Or Washingtons Birthday? And, good Lord willing and the creek don't rise, come March of next year, I'll be 225 years old. The catchphrase itself was associated with Hank Williams. Then theres a long gap in the record before it began to appear again in the 1950s. The tale is widely reproduced and believed nevertheless. Note that the Creek Nation(s) did not rise at all. Over yonder toward the water tower. DeSantis's year-long quest to strip Disney of its self-rule came after the entertainment giant, and Florida's . An odd few (6% of Americans) do use soft drink, according to the Pop vs. Only 15 days into her marriage to Roy Tupkin and Sadie Blue is already . Is this derivation correct? "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." If you think you can't, you won't be able to accomplish something, but if you think you can, you'll succeed. That book was a 1908 publication and leans toward the thought of Creek Indian, even if not capitalized, because of the word fire (as in shooting guns). (KAIT) - Its been a busy 24 hours for first responders in Sharp County. Well, at least we thought we did.but maybe not. I absolutely loved the southern voice of these characters throughout this book. Eventually, you became a singular pronoun, and we lost the plural pronouns. We do our best to keep our promises, but sometimes unforeseen circumstances come up. The tale is widely reproduced and believed nevertheless. Weiss has a unique voice. Quick, what do you call a soft drink? Farmers know that if you do something 'til the cows come home, it's going to take all day. 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. What better way to sweeten the sour than with a classic Southern libation? He would tell the audience that we would meet again, "If the good Lord's willin', and the creek don't rise". 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!. The lyrics play on the expression Lord willing and the creek don't rise, which is thought to originate from Alabama. As they returned home, some of them also killed some settlers in the Ohio valley. Firsts, Mines, Asks. A search for the word rise does not produce this phrase, so it appears that the body of water theory was correct after all. Ain't got no dog in that race. The "creek don't rise" phrase is now sometimes credited to this time of unrest and displacement. Rather, when this phrase is used, we'd like you to mind your manners and stop acting inappropriately. 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.. In the South, a hill of beans is its own measuring stick. Learn how your comment data is processed. This book reminds me of that. and the word HOPE. I ate that up with a spoon and did my best to read them all. Your email address will not be published. And I have used this page's title often-feeling quite sure I knew exactly what it meant. Two years after the signing of the treaty, Benjamin Hawkins died at the site known as Old Agency. Someone reminded me not to be reminded of you. This phrase can be intensified by the addition of the word "way," as in "way over yonder.". If the Creek Dont Rise by Leah Weiss is a 2017 Sourcebooks Landmark publication. 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. This was a Traveling Sister Read with Brenda, Sarah, Jennifer and Porshajo. 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 When a fellers fixin to do something, theyre about to do it. Lately, though, I have learned to wince quickly and let it go. It seems this saying is a favorite expression of country singers. 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. If so, you know that being madder than a wet hen is very mad indeed. Whatscatawampus? Origin debaters point to Col. Benjamin Hawkins of North Carolina, a Continental Congress senator. It's a more conditional statement of intent than come hell or high water. "You've heard that old saying, 'I'll be there if the creek don't rise?' Well, they've all risen, and a lot of people are staying home because of. "Like all great southern. What's The Difference Between Y'all And Ya'll? 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. If we relied on written sources it would be hard to believe in such continued use. The expression make groceries is a translation of the French faire son march (to do ones market shopping). Neither provides any documentation: http://pub122.ezboard.com/fwordoriginsorgfrm2.showMessage?topicID=191.topic, http://members.aol.com/MorelandC/HaveOriginsData.htm#LordWillingAndTheCreek. However, with the west in flames, both whites and Indians began organizing fighters. This string of double negatives is actually meant as encouragement! And of course, there's nothing prettier than a warm summer day picking peaches in the sunshine. If the Creek rose, Hawkins would have to be present to quell the rebellion. writes one commentator.. 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. 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. A true Southern tradition. He told us about a young man who had been in the museum some weeks previous. Her grandmother Gladys tells us of her awful past ridden with the drunkenness and senseless abuse. Someone once said that when you visit the South, you need a translator. I always took it as a reference to the level of water in a creek. Doh! All of my life there have been local mountain sayings that I've heard and of course repeated, complete with a North Carolina southern drawl as literal fact. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. 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. If you find only minnows, though, they look even smaller compared to the heavy catch you hoped for. Werefixin to tell you more Southernisms, and now were doing just that. Its a more conditional statement of intent than come hell or high water. Runnin around like a chicken with it's head . As I was in a museum, I felt confident in repeating the knowledge to others as fact. 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. 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. Im told it was a sign-off tag line of the 1930s US radio broadcaster Bradley Kincaid. Theres probably a connection between eternal damnation and tarnation. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The approximately 20,000 Creek Indians that still exist reside in Oklahoma. PS A belated congratulations on your appointment as moderator, Tom. While this phrase may sound made up, it's simply our multisyllabic manner of saying something is askew. 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. 132 Copy quote. This United Statesrelated article is a stub. But in following verses the rhyme changes through "creeks don't rise", "creek stay low", back to "creeks 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. 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 proper phrase is Lord willing and the Creek don't rise. A very young, newly married pregnant woman, she vows her no good moonshining husband has beaten her for the last time. IF THE CREEK DON'T RISE is character driven and one fine gritty and entertaining debut with one fine satisfying ending! 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. After eating a big, delicious Southern dinner Granny just made, you have to finish up with a slice of sweet potato pie, right? This means that if everything continues to plan, things will be okay. 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. (LogOut/ Many thanks to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for the ARC in return for an unbiased review. "If the Creek Don't Rise" We'll be there unless something out of our control stops us. In the Deep South? This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. In fact, Georgia and South Carolina produce more peaches than any other states in the South. on, This page was last edited on 22 January 2022, at 17:42. I was going to ask him why, but I had to shoot him. She's not looking for sweets; she wants a hug and a kiss. (Yes, it is terrible grammar, but that is how it is said. 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. It was so enjoyable and fun reading and discussing the book with them. But I know of just four instances from that century. However, this is clearly one of those evolving language cases. It has been noted that the phrase should be correctly written as God willing and the Creek dont rise. 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. Following that treaty John Siever formed the state of Franklin from land previously claimed by North Carolina but never ceded by the Indian tribes. Its not a recent change. The distinct English dialect of the American South, which has a close relationship with Black English (African American Vernacular English), is fascinatingand plenty lively. The grit and darkness don't just belong to Sadie, though. It completely nailed the "mountain living" that I remembered my grandmother talking about. Ireckon is the way many Southerners get to surmising about something or other. 1851. 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. There's two or three creeks," he said. 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.