(Yes, it is terrible grammar, but that is how it is said. (I would not be surprised to discover that the last contributor on your first link is none other than our own samclem.). Someone kicked in with we say cricks. Where did this contraction, popular in both African American English and Southern American English, come from? If you think you can't, you won't be able to accomplish something, but if you think you can, you'll succeed. [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. 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. Anything to the degree of "all get out" is something to talk about. Required fields are marked *. 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. 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. In his response, he was said to write, "God willing and the Creek don't rise." The request was to a general that had troops near Horseshoe Bend Alabama, protecting settlers against a Creek Indian uprising. God Willing and the Creek Don't Rise | Native Heritage Project 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. We do our best to keep our promises, but sometimes unforeseen circumstances come up. This was a Traveling Sister Read with Brenda, Sarah, Jennifer and Porshajo. New words appear; old ones fall out of use or alter their meanings. Its a more conditional statement of intent than come hell or high water. Southern Slang: If The Creek Don't Rise | What does it mean? | Ask A Now, she admits to saying this to her children. Look up Lord willing and the creek don't rise in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. 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. Farmers know that if you do something 'til the cows come home, it's going to take all day. When you've met the girl of your dreams, chances are she is "pretty as a peach." HARDY, Ark. He told us about a young man who had been in the museum some weeks previous. He was a politician and Indian agent. From the beginning, the first narrative of Sadie Blue, which broke my heart from the first page, it feels like it will be her story. Two years after the signing of the treaty, Benjamin Hawkins died at the site known as Old Agency. It's almost always accompanied by a good-natured, perhaps slightly exasperated, shake of the head. Change). (the good) Lord willing and the creek don't rise - TheFreeDictionary.com The earliest example known is this mock rustic speech: Feller-citizens Im not customed to public speakin before sich highfalutin audiences. The tale is widely reproduced and believed nevertheless. This article about the English language is a stub. The English language is forever changing. 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.. "Well I s'wanee" evokes the Southern Suwannee River. 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. If you hear this one, you should probably pause a moment. 'Creek don't rise' is a phrase with possibly more than one meaning In his reply, he was said to have written, God willing and the Creek dont rise. Chief Rose is asking drivers to be cautious while out and about. If the Creek Don't Rise Quotes by Leah Weiss - Goodreads 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! "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. 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. Someone reminded me not to be reminded of you. 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). 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. This book reminds me of that. 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. Which means if nothing crazy happens or anything out my control such as a natural disaster. 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. To cover your bases you might say, "I'll see you then if the creek don't rise." Youd be in a real fix then. The History And Traditions That Make Hanukkah Light Up, Examples Of Ableist Language You May Not Realize Youre Using, Winter 2023 New Words: Everything, Everywhere, All At Once, Fall In Love With 14 Captivating Valentines Day Words, Rizz And 7 Other Slang Trends That Explain The Internet In 2023, Win With Qi And This List Of Our Best Scrabble Words, We Had ChatGPT Coin Nonsense PhrasesAnd Then We Defined Them, Surprise! In the Deep South? "If the good Lord's willing and the creek don't rise.". God willing and the creek don't rise - TheFreeDictionary.com Pot callin the kettle black. (Recall, also, that the Creek who did go to war against the whites were a smaller group within the Creek nation and that the larger group remained neutral or actively assisted the whites in the warat which point they were betrayed by having the U.S. sieze all their land.). Now, she admits to saying this to her children. If the Creek Don't Rise Quotes Showing 1-14 of 14 "Times like these I wonder if I ever been happy. [3] The capitalization of the word Creek supposedly referred to the Creek Indian tribe rather than a body of water.[4][5]. 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. The Problem with Saying, "Lord Willing and the Creek Don't Rise" What in tarnation? Apparently Carter had a great many pills, because the phrase found its way into the Southern vocabulary. 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 . An exclamationof surprise, anger, happiness, really any emotionthat is appropriate in nearly every Southern scenario. Many thanks to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for the ARC in return for an unbiased review. Your first citation is much stronger than your second. He would tell the audience that we would meet again, "If the good Lord's willin', and the creek don't rise". (Or maybe the Piggly Wiggly, a Southern market chain that originated in Memphis, Tennessee). Throughout the years, through these floods, weve had several roads that have washed completely out, so you just dont know whats down there.. Gumption is spirit, courage, spunk, boldness, and initiative. 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. Maya Rodale is a best-selling romance author. This phrase isn't about physical appearance. 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. A preacher who hires a very different kind of woman than is usually found in these parts. If you think you can't, you won't be able to accomplish something, but if you think you can, you'll succeed. It was a big old chunk of a book, so only a couple of the kids including myself read it. This is a high compliment in the South, since Southern states are known for their peaches. Thats a mouthful, but we lumped these all together because they are allsubstitutes for (God) d*mn it. But did he really say the words quoted or was a phrase morphed to include him as the author? Firsts, Mines, Asks. A sister who is afraid of losing her brother and Sadie's grandmother and aunt, all tell their stories adding to Sadie's own. Her grandmother Gladys tells us of her awful past ridden with the drunkenness and senseless abuse. Youll thank us later! You'll most often hear it coming out of Mama's mouth when the kids are running amok. You dont know whats underneath that water, Rose said. When you're fixin' to do something, it's going to happen, but you also may decide to take your sweet time. I'm fixin' to tell you that this phrase is as Southern as sweet tea. Some newspaper clippings are harder to determine which meaning they meant. I absolutely loved the southern voice of these characters throughout this book. And really, wouldn't we all druther have our druthers? This phrase can be intensified by the addition of the word "way," as in "way over yonder.". You will have spotted that neither of these capitalises creek, which suggests they didnt have the Creek people in mind. I will be at church on Sunday. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Leah Weiss introduces her extraordinary characters as chapters unfold and each one has their own peculiarity. However, if you're from the South, you know that sometimes there's just no other way to get your point across. And, when the doins been done, the feller done did 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. As was the case with Dr Mattox, the remark is routinely attributed to first being said by Benjamin Hawkins. 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. Whatscatawampus? 'Cause everything's fine, God, I wish it were . I am usually among those who bristle at change in usage. The tale is widely reproduced and believed nevertheless. It's a vivid phrase, and it's an accurate one too. Marty Stuart places the words "If the Good Lord's willin' and the creek don't rise, we'll see you in the mornin'." But, in the South, if your boss says that dog wont hunt in a meeting, it probably means your suggestion or idea needs improvement. A young woman goes missing and has the town both fearful and wondering. If the creek rises, travel will be impossible and Ill never get to Grannys. Creek don't rise - phrase meaning and origin - Phrasefinder Every researcher who has investigated the expression has dismissed an Indian connection as untrue. 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.. 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. 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. The phrase may be accompanied by a gesture indicating north, south, east, or west. 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. "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. Marty Stuart places the words "If the Good Lord's willin' and the creek don't rise, we'll see you in the mornin'." 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! Well, at least we thought we did.but maybe not. (KAIT) - Its been a busy 24 hours for first responders in Sharp County. Andrew Jackson sent a request for reinforcements before the Battle Of New Orleans. Tensions between settlers and both tribes had been rising following the Treaty of Augusta and the land cessions of 1782-1783. 1851. Lately, though, I have learned to wince quickly and let it go. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. (LogOut/ 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. 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 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. The doin hasnt been done yet. Lord Willing and the creek don't rise - English for Students There is a lot of controversy about this fairly common folk saying. A true Southern tradition. 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. Instead of "Well, I swear," Southerners have adopted a geographically inspired alternative. A rising creek could spell trouble, as it can lead to flooding and other issues. 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. If you refer to itno matter the brand or flavoras Coke, chances are you grew up in the South. No Bigger Than a Minnow in a Fishing Pond, A Rooster One Day and A Feather Duster the Next, If You Know These Sayings, You Definitely Grew Up in the South, Only Real Southerners Know the Meaning of "Putting On the Dog", Things Only Southern Moms Say To Their Daughters, Things Only Southerners Say When It Snows. 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). It's a more conditional statement of intent than come hell or high water. Someone once said that when you visit the South, you need a translator. Sentences With "Lord willing and the creek don't rise" | Random All rights reserved.This page URL: http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-god1.htmLast modified: 25 February 2012. Turn around, and please dont drive through it. God Willing and the Creek Don't Rise - Southern Love 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. Weiss has a unique voice. History: God Willing And The Creek Dont Rise Actually this is not proven. It can be summarised as if all goes well. You gonna do nothing?". Grahams American Monthly Magazine, Jun. There is no reason to suppose the Indian variant is true. Thats exactly who I was hoping would reply to my question. 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. Origin debaters point to Col. Benjamin Hawkins of North Carolina, a Continental Congress senator. But in following verses the rhyme changes through "creeks don't rise", "creek stay low", back to "creeks don't rise". 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. Every researcher who has investigated the expression has dismissed an Indian connection as untrue. Over yonder down the road. The saying "God willing and the Creek don't rise." Came from those traveling west in the OLD DAYS. Donate via PayPal. Have you ever seen a wet hen? Because he capitalized Creek its asserted that he was referring to the Creek Indian tribe and not a body of water. It can be summarised as "if all goes well". She's seventeen, pregnant and two weeks into her marriage to Roy Tupkin, after enduring brutal beatings, Sadie knows she has made a mistake. I was surprised as all get out. Select your currency from the list and click Donate. Hang onto both and 'tough it out'. You gonna let him break your spirit, too? Page created 25 Feb. 2012, Problems viewing this page? It's raining cats and dogs. From the start there's been a film of dingy on my days.. This one originates from the 19th century, when Carter Products marketed "Little Liver Pills" across the country. The distinct English dialect of the American South, which has a close relationship with Black English (African American Vernacular English), is fascinatingand plenty lively. Southerners adopted this phrase wholeheartedly from its early usages in 1700s England and Scotland (where it meant "common sense"). Kicked in the gut and sucker punched with one of the best books I have ever read. Eventually, you became a singular pronoun, and we lost the plural pronouns. Jan 29, 2014 at 19:34 . 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. !, Reckon has ancestry tracing all the way back to the 1000s (and maybe older still), and originally means to count, calculate.. Curiously, this word might have roots in offbeat British humor from the 1840s. 15. The Creek were a tribe of Native Americans (indians) who would ambush people who were traveling West. 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. We've had a lot of delays, but Lord willing and the creek don't rise, we should have the house finished before winter. There, we listened to amazing stories told by Dr. John Mattox. The word you use for a fizzy, carbonated drink reveals a lot more about you than you know. When you're in the South, "over yonder" is a distant directionany direction. Southerners tell it like it isno matter what it isso think of this as a learning moment. The second contributor on the AOL site is simply repeating things without any understanding. If the Creek Don't Rise by Leah Weiss | Goodreads Maybe not all dogs were made for hunting some prefer the warmth of a fireplace and the comfort of your lap. But, what we do know is English once used you and ye strictly to address a group of people. Poor little doggy. All rights reserved. That means whatever you're talking about is worth less than very little. Older than Methuselah. It is a breathtaking and gritty portrayal of hillbilly life from the year 1970 which is set in the Appalachian Mountains. by Leah Weiss. 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. The approximately 20,000 Creek Indians that still exist reside in Oklahoma. https://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=Lord_willing_and_the_creek_don%27t_rise&oldid=70955250. If the good Lord's willin 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. the creek don't rise. It happens often during a Southern summer, when the heat rises and the temperatures shoot past 100. Come visit me at LeahWeiss.com where you can subscribe to my CREEKRISE author news. When a fellers fixin to do something, theyre about to do it. It was so enjoyable and fun reading and discussing the book with them. The 1800s and 1900s were much simpler times, as people didn't have the luxuries afforded in modern times. 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. No, we don't mean you need to go fix your hair. In the South, a hill of beans is its own measuring stick. Copyright 2023 KAIT. 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. While there, we happened upon a museum dedicated to the Underground Railroad. 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. 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. Who better to write about the risks of the Creek rising in revolt? 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.