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I've never forgotten it and it's drove me nuts because I would love a copy of it. Translated, this means: "We'll be there unless something out of our control stops us." Dont worry, if youre helping a friend make groceries, youre not expected to create food from scratch. She's not looking for sweets; she wants a hug and a kiss. The Creek so-called civil war of 1812 involving the Red Stick faction, and their combat North and South, appears to have been an impetus for that forts creation. A: "Do you reckon we'll have enough from this harvest to make ends meet?" https://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=Lord_willing_and_the_creek_don%27t_rise&oldid=70955250. It mentions Benjamin Hawkins of the late 18th century, who was asked by the US president to go back to Washington. Because that is supposedly how the original author first wrote it. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. And of course, there's nothing prettier than a warm summer day picking peaches in the sunshine. the creek don't rise " is an American slang expression implying strong intentions subject to complete frustration by uncommon but not unforeseeable events. If the Creek Don't Rise is a collection of hard-used characters, tangled relationships, family angst, and fortitude. The tale is widely reproduced and believed nevertheless. The "creek don't rise" phrase is now sometimes credited to this time of unrest and displacement. (Im terrible about reading usernames as I scan threads, and I completely missed who had contributed that comment.). 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. 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. A strikingly sincere portrait of a town and its buried secrets from an outstanding new voice in southern fiction. If you hear this one, you should probably pause a moment. But in following verses the rhyme changes through "creeks don't rise", "creek stay low", back to "creeks don't rise". Her grandmother Gladys tells us of her awful past ridden with the drunkenness and senseless abuse. 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). "Creek" originated as a reference to creeks flooding and preventing travel, but is sometimes re-interpreted as a reference to the Creek tribe. I'm fixin' to tell you that this phrase is as Southern as sweet tea. Baines Creek, high up in the Appalachian mountain, a poor place filled with impoverished people, a place where moonshine is king. It's a more conditional statement of intent than come hell or high water. 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. Where did this contraction, popular in both African American English and Southern American English, come from? There is a lot of controversy about this fairly common folk saying. In other words, Ill make it to Grandmas if the indians dont go on the warpath. Over yonder toward the water tower. "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. Anything to the degree of "all get out" is something to talk about. He would tell the audience that we would meet again, "If the good Lord's willin', and the creek don't rise". 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. 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. Which means if nothing crazy happens or anything out my control such as a natural disaster. And yes, I have heard the music of this culture and watched the dancing. Over yonder down the road. Curiously, this word might have roots in offbeat British humor from the 1840s. Southerners adopted this phrase wholeheartedly from its early usages in 1700s England and Scotland (where it meant "common sense"). 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. And, when the doins been done, the feller done did it. In his experience, it doesnt take much for local creeks and streams to cause trouble. Lord willing and the creek don't rise, we'll have that new barn finished in time for the harvest. I agree that the Indian origin sounds unlikely. 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. If The Creek Don't Rise. The General replied to Stonewall Jackson that he would send troops "the Good Lord is willing and the Creeks don't rise (in rebellion). As I was in a museum, I felt confident in repeating the knowledge to others as fact. While there, we happened upon a museum dedicated to the Underground Railroad. It's often said in a reassuring way, to calm people down and encourage them to keep on trying. "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." And that is the highest praise from me. In the Deep South? I see some folks walk easy and carry peace on their shoulders, but I been chained to a iron life." Leah Weiss, If the Creek Don't Rise 3 likes Like 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. 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. (Yes, it is terrible grammar, but that is how it is said. I've been in a slump of just ok books and was craving one that was special. When you've met the girl of your dreams, chances are she is "pretty as a peach." To cover your bases you might say, "I'll see you then if the creek don't rise." "He broke bout every piece of sweet in you. If the Creek Don't Rise. Gumption is spirit, courage, spunk, boldness, and initiative. 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. It was bad as all get out. Is It Called Presidents Day Or Washingtons Birthday? It is a paraphrase of a popular biblical saying from James 4:15, and while there are scores of citations to the phrase in the sense of the waters rising, in the US and Europe, there is not one shred of evidence of a reference to the Creek nation. According to World Wide Words, when asked if it meant Creek Indians, their expert responded with: Quite certainly not. Werefixin to tell you more Southernisms, and now were doing just that. 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 phrase may be accompanied by a gesture indicating north, south, east, or west. I reckon "I reckon" can replace any number of phrases, such as: I guess, I suppose, I think, and I imagine. 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!! In Gone With the Wind, Scarlett OHara says: I do declare, Frank Kennedy, if you dont look dashing with that new set of whiskers!. If youre not using this phrase what are you waiting for? Have you ever seen a wet hen? "If the Creek Don't Rise" We'll be there unless something out of our control stops us. She's seventeen, pregnant and two weeks into her marriage to Roy Tupkin, after enduring brutal beatings, Sadie knows she has made a mistake. 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. Someone reminded me not to be reminded of you. However, this is clearly one of those evolving language cases. 4.5 stars! "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." 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. He was a politician and Indian agent. Copy furnished by Net Galley for the price of a review. (KAIT) - Its been a busy 24 hours for first responders in Sharp County. The approximately 20,000 Creek Indians that still exist reside in Oklahoma. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. And I mean took me there! It turns out that the phrase was written by Benjamin Hawkins in the late 18th century. Theres probably a connection between eternal damnation and tarnation. Get help and learn more about the design. Quick, what do you call a soft drink? 132 Copy quote. Other words sites As they returned home, some of them also killed some settlers in the Ohio valley. DeSantis's year-long quest to strip Disney of its self-rule came after the entertainment giant, and Florida's . Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. 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). Funny Phrases ben stanczyk 10/25/01 Wow! Another publication, Proceedings of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge Jurisdiction, Volumes 88-89, coins the phrase: if the Lord is willing and the creek dont fire, we will so do. The 1800s and 1900s were much simpler times, as people didn't have the luxuries afforded in modern times. Eventually, you became a singular pronoun, and we lost the plural pronouns. 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. Although he admits when the rain starts to fall, it makes him a little nervous. Note that the Creek Nation(s) did not "rise" at all. Powered by Discourse, best viewed with JavaScript enabled, origin of phrase - "if the creek don't rise". Whatscatawampus? We didnt. Ireckon is the way many Southerners get to surmising about something or other. Every researcher who has investigated the expression has dismissed an Indian connection as untrue. 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. Every researcher who has investigated the expression has dismissed an Indian connection as untrue. Cookies and privacy We've had a lot of delays, but Lord willing and the creek don't rise, we should have the house finished before winter. 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. God willing and the creek don't rise If all goes as it should; if everything goes well. I am usually among those who bristle at change in usage. Apparently Carter had a great many pills, because the phrase found its way into the Southern vocabulary. 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. 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. Youd be in a real fix then. An exclamationof surprise, anger, happiness, really any emotionthat is appropriate in nearly every Southern scenario. Given that many small farm streams were crossed without bridges, which worked find most of the time, a swollen stream would cause problems. No, we don't mean you need to go fix your hair. 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. Now, she admits to saying this to her children. Theres two or three creeks, he said. If you find only minnows, though, they look even smaller compared to the heavy catch you hoped for. 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. Pot callin the kettle black. 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. (Or maybe the Piggly Wiggly, a Southern market chain that originated in Memphis, Tennessee). This United Statesrelated article is a stub. Not one shred of evidence is a clear invitation to fault the writer. It seems this saying is a favorite expression of country singers. Paperback, 305 pages. If the Creek Don't Rise by Leah Weiss (Author), Tom Stechschulte (Narrator), Kate Forbes (Narrator). 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. 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. 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. Because he capitalized Creek its asserted that he was referring to the Creek Indian tribe and not a body of water. The Lafayette gazette(Louisiana), 3 Nov. 1894. On his deathbed he married the Creek woman who had been his common-law wife. However, with the west in flames, both whites and Indians began organizing fighters. Actually this is not proven. From the start there's been a film of dingy on my days.. 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. But we declareif your only knowledge of Southern sayings comes fromGone With the Wind, youre missing out on a lot of Southern expressions. That means whatever you're talking about is worth less than very little. And really, wouldn't we all druther have our druthers? There, we listened to amazing stories told by Dr. John Mattox. While in the south, Hawkins was requested by the President of the U.S. to return to Washington. Your first citation is much stronger than your second. Charles Wilson said the flood waters are something he has to live with to enjoy residing on the river. We admit that we've heard this Southernism more than once. A very young, newly married pregnant woman, she vows her no good moonshining husband has beaten her for the last time. 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. To understand Hawkins, I read a little further into his history. "All get out" finds its way into Southern phrases constantly, and it intensifies any statement. The distinct English dialect of the American South, which has a close relationship with Black English (African American Vernacular English), is fascinatingand plenty lively. It can be deployed sincerely, but if you're hearing "bless your heart" in the South, it probably has an edge to it. Firsts, Mines, Asks. For instance, I might promise to show up for Christmas at Grandmas if the good Lords willing and the creek dont rise. In fact, Georgia and South Carolina produce more peaches than any other states in the South. Someone kicked in with we say cricks. Farmers know that if you do something 'til the cows come home, it's going to take all day. 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. 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. 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! Cant never could is a reminder that if you dont even try, you wont ever accomplish your goal. It can be summarised as "if all goes well". Its not a recent change. Or, depending on where you live, it could be Sewanee, the small college town in Tennessee. 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. 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. Origin debaters point to Col. Benjamin Hawkins of North Carolina, a Continental Congress senator. It is a breathtaking and gritty portrayal of hillbilly life from the year 1970 which is set in the Appalachian Mountains. Well, at least we thought we did.but maybe not. A true Southern tradition. This phrase enjoyed national exposure in 1988 after Texas Governor Ann Richards remarked: When we pay billions for planes that wont fly, billions for tanks that wont fire, and billions for systems that wont workthat old dog wont hunt.. I am feeling culture shock from reading this book. It was so enjoyable and fun reading and discussing the book with them. Let me love you again, give me one more try. 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. While this phrase may sound made up, it's simply our multisyllabic manner of saying something is askew. 24 of 30. If you hear this one, it's best to slow down. You might say cocola. This book reminds me of that. I ate that up with a spoon and did my best to read them all. 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. The catchphrase itself was associated with Hank Williams. I see said the blind man to his deaf wife. Grandma might whisper this one over her hymnal if she sees you cutting up in church on Sunday morning. He was a politician and Indian agent. Thats a mouthful, but we lumped these all together because they are allsubstitutes for (God) d*mn it. When I was growing up, this was something we said all of the time. If you use this phrase, you could be declaring any number of things: surprise, dissent, happiness. This was a Traveling Sister Read with Brenda, Sarah, Jennifer and Porshajo. The grit and darkness don't just belong to Sadie, though. In the 1900s, the word evolved, taking on a Southern spin as well as new meanings such as "courage" and "get-up-and-go.". Just wait till you see what Granny Gladys does..with a bit of help from Mother Nature..hehehe. When the road looks rough ahead, remember the 'Man upstairs'. "The Good Lord willing and the 'creek' don't rise" is just one of them. This means that if everything continues to plan, things will be okay. 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. (LogOut/ 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. (I would not be surprised to discover that the last contributor on your first link is none other than our own samclem.). 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. Maybe not all dogs were made for hunting some prefer the warmth of a fireplace and the comfort of your lap. Its a more conditional statement of intent than come hell or high water. Wheres my blasted phone?. by Leah Weiss. Take a look here Michael: http://www.genealogynation.com/creek/. The only requirement is that you declare it loud and proud. No matter where you go in Kentucky, the people often have some colorful expressions. A search for the word rise does not produce this phrase, so it appears that the body of water theory was correct after all. 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. "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. Select your currency from the list and click Donate. When you're exhausted in an I'm-so-beat-I-can't-go-on kind of way, you're definitely worn slap out. IF THE CREEK DON'T RISE is character driven and one fine gritty and entertaining debut with one fine satisfying ending! Maya Rodale is a best-selling romance author. 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. You dont know whats underneath that water, Rose said. As they returned home, some of them also killed some settlers in the Ohio valley. An odd few (6% of Americans) do use soft drink, according to the Pop vs. 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. 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. In his response, he was said to write, "God willing and the Creek don't rise." You gonna let him break your spirit, too? "Like all great southern writers, Leah Weiss's magic turns the local into the universal." Wiley Cash, New York Times bestselling author, on All The Little Hopes. Like trying to meet a friend for lunch but having the car breakdown on the way. Oh, how I loved this story - I simply didnt want it to end! Take a look at some of our favorite Southern sayings that we just couldn't live without. It was a big old chunk of a book, so only a couple of the kids including myself read it. If you're trying to be nice, but you just can't quite let it go, "bless your heart" is a go-to. Many thanks to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for the ARC in return for an unbiased review. It's raining cats and dogs. Because this is a progressive verb (youll make progress with it for sure), remember You were fixin to patch the hole in the wall. Never say you fixed to do it! Grahams American Monthly Magazine, Jun. The earliest example known is this mock rustic speech: Feller-citizens Im not customed to public speakin before sich highfalutin audiences. World Wide Words is copyright Michael Quinion, 1996. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. If you refer to itno matter the brand or flavoras Coke, chances are you grew up in the South. 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. Georgia-born blogger Jennifer Collins says she always rolled her eyes when her mom said this to her. This article about the English language is a stub. My officers and fire department, we went along the river houses and notified everybody and recommended evacuation, said Hardy Police Chief Scott Rose. Then theres a long gap in the record before it began to appear again in the 1950s. When the U.S. demanded that the murderers be handed over for punishment, the Creek executed them themselves (for the Ohio murders, not for the River Raisin battle and aftermath). 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. The tale is widely reproduced and believed nevertheless. I will be at church on Sunday. 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. Nor is grammar an argument in favor the the subject being plural. A true Southern tradition. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Page created 25 Feb. 2012, Problems viewing this page? If you think you can't, you won't be able to accomplish something, but if you think you can, you'll succeed. The lyrics play on the expression Lord willing and the creek don't rise, which is thought to originate from Alabama. Youll thank us later! In his reply, he was said to have written, God willing and the Creek dont rise. The catchphrase itself was associated with Hank Williams. If the Creek Don't Rise Quotes Showing 1-14 of 14 "Times like these I wonder if I ever been happy. But I know of just four instances from that century. 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. This phrase can be intensified by the addition of the word "way," as in "way over yonder.". 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. A multipurpose Southernism. !, Reckon has ancestry tracing all the way back to the 1000s (and maybe older still), and originally means to count, calculate.. Accents vary by regionand sometimes even city to city. Chief Rose is asking drivers to be cautious while out and about. Required fields are marked *. If you just heard your mama come home and you haven't finished your chores, she will definitely be "madder than a wet hen." 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. All rights reserved. If you answered soda, you probably hail from either coast or some patches around St. Louis or Milwaukee.Pop lovers congregate mostly in the Midwest and western states. 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.. Affixes dictionary. If so, you know that being madder than a wet hen is very mad indeed. If you think you can't, you won't be able to accomplish something, but if you think you can, you'll succeed. 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.".