We've had a lot of delays, but God willing and the creek don't rise, we should have the house finished before winter. It happens often during a Southern summer, when the heat rises and the temperatures shoot past 100. 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. 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. Though youre likely to hear Southernisms such as. Turn around, and please dont drive through it. If you think you can't, you won't be able to accomplish something, but if you think you can, you'll succeed. Paperback, 305 pages. Good Lord willing and the creek don't rise - phrase meaning and origin The grit and darkness don't just belong to Sadie, though. 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 states involved sent Hawkins,Andrew Pickens(South Carolina), Joseph Martin (Georgia) andLachlan McIntosh(Continental representative, Georgia) to negotiate a treaty to end the fighting. Rather, when this phrase is used, we'd like you to mind your manners and stop acting inappropriately. "Come Hell or high water" vs "Lord willing and the creek don't rise" 'If The Creek Don't Rise' Traces Webs Of Hurt And Help : NPR Every researcher who has investigated the expression has dismissed an Indian connection as untrue. I was just hoping for something more concrete about the real origin. In the South, a hill of beans is its own measuring stick. When I was growing up, this was something we said all of the time. The Creek were a tribe of Native Americans (indians) who would ambush people who were traveling West. 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. The clipping below from 1892 is a reference to flooding waterways not allowing the postmaster to get to his office. The tale is widely reproduced and believed nevertheless. Marty Stuart places the words "If the Good Lord's willin' and the creek don't rise, we'll see you in the mornin'." 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. If The Creek Don't Rise I reckon "I reckon" can replace any number of phrases, such as: I guess, I suppose, I think, and I imagine. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. 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. Following that treaty John Siever formed the state of Franklin from land previously claimed by North Carolina but never ceded by the Indian tribes. Do You Know These Sizzlin' Southern Sayings? - Dictionary.com Then theres a long gap in the record before it began to appear again in the 1950s. It was set in the Ozark mountains featuring what some people called a witch. 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. Lord Willing and the creek don't rise - English for Students In his reply, he was said to have written, God willing and the Creek dont rise. An odd few (6% of Americans) do use soft drink, according to the Pop vs. Cookies and privacy 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!! 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. The lyrics play on the expression Lord willing and the creek don't rise, which is thought to originate from Alabama. You may still hear it if you stop into a country store. If the Creek Dont Rise by Leah Weiss is a 2017 Sourcebooks Landmark publication. God Willing and the Creek Don't Rise | Native Heritage Project Southern Slang: If The Creek Don't Rise | What does it mean? | Ask A My officers and fire department, we went along the river houses and notified everybody and recommended evacuation, said Hardy Police Chief Scott Rose. 1851. In fact, Georgia and South Carolina produce more peaches than any other states in the South. This was an extremely enjoyable read! This article about the English language is a stub. 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. It can be deployed sincerely, but if you're hearing "bless your heart" in the South, it probably has an edge to it. The written record dates the saying from about the middle of the nineteenth century. This means that if everything continues to plan, things will be okay. This Southern saying, God Willing and the Creek Don't Rise. The catchphrase itself was associated with Hank Williams. It is a physical and mental state a few degrees past weary and just this side of dog-tired. This book reminds me of that. Its especially difficult for people that live south of River Road and some of them that live in Woodland Hills. The saying "God willing and the Creek don't rise." Came from those traveling west in the OLD DAYS. Which means if nothing crazy happens or anything out my control such as a natural disaster. I am feeling culture shock from reading this book. 40 OLD PHRASES AND SAYINGS - Grammy's Grid Cant never could is a reminder that if you dont even try, you wont ever accomplish your goal. A young woman goes missing and has the town both fearful and wondering. When a fellers fixin to do something, theyre about to do it. I will be at church on Sunday. (KAIT) - Its been a busy 24 hours for first responders in Sharp County. Youd be in a real fix then. The tale is widely reproduced and believed nevertheless. As I was in a museum, I felt confident in repeating the knowledge to others as fact. Her grandmother Gladys tells us of her awful past ridden with the drunkenness and senseless abuse. He told us about a young man who had been in the museum some weeks previous. Leah Weiss introduces her extraordinary characters as chapters unfold and each one has their own peculiarity. Some say farmers used to dunk their hens when they got broody. I grew up with that saying and Ive said it more times than I can count. If the Creek Don't Rise by Leah Weiss (Author), Tom Stechschulte (Narrator), Kate Forbes (Narrator). It has been noted that the phrase should be correctly written as God willing and the Creek dont rise. Translated, this means: "We'll be there unless something out of our control stops us." 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. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Given that many small farm streams were crossed without bridges, which worked find most of the time, a swollen stream would cause problems. It turns out that the phrase was written by Benjamin Hawkins in the late 18th century. Talk:Lord willing and the creek don't rise - Wiktionary The creek don't rise - Wikipedia To understand Hawkins, I read a little further into his history. Did you know the saying God willing and the Creek dont rise was in reference to the Creek Indians and not a body of water? If the Good Lord's Willing and the Creek Don't Rise - Wikipedia All rights reserved.This page URL: http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-god1.htmLast modified: 25 February 2012. I was going to ask him why, but I had to shoot him. 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. The General replied to Stonewall Jackson that he would send troops "the Good Lord is willing and the Creeks don't rise (in rebellion). Come visit me at LeahWeiss.com where you can subscribe to my CREEKRISE author news. Unarguable Southern criticism. IF THE CREEK DON'T RISE - Leah Weiss You gonna let him break your spirit, too? 'Cause everything's fine, God, I wish it were . According to World Wide Words, when asked if it meant Creek Indians, their expert responded with: Quite certainly not. 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. 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. What better way to sweeten the sour than with a classic Southern libation? You dont know whats underneath that water, Rose said. Positive thinking, Southern style. 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's almost always accompanied by a good-natured, perhaps slightly exasperated, shake of the head. 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. All rights reserved. Every researcher who has investigated the expression has dismissed an Indian connection as untrue. Here are a couple of examples of this claim. Funny Phrases ben stanczyk 10/25/01 document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. If the Creek Don't Rise is a collection of hard-used characters, tangled relationships, family angst, and fortitude. Disney lost control of its Florida kingdom for opposing the "Don't Say 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. Weiss has a unique voice. Georgia-born blogger Jennifer Collins says she always rolled her eyes when her mom said this to her. If The Creek Don't Rise. The lyrics play on the expression Lord willing and the creek don't rise, which is thought to originate from Alabama. I've never forgotten it and it's drove me nuts because I would love a copy of it. It may take the form of real or mock dialect, in variations like " Lor' willin' an' th' crick don' rise.". Positive thinking, Southern style. Southerners adopted this phrase wholeheartedly from its early usages in 1700s England and Scotland (where it meant "common sense"). Curiously, this word might have roots in offbeat British humor from the 1840s. 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. Any of you word experts have solid information? 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!. 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. The Lafayette gazette (Louisiana), 3 Nov. 1894. I am usually among those who bristle at change in usage. The "creek don't rise" phrase is now sometimes credited to this time of unrest and displacement. The phrase "God willing." - English Language & Usage Stack Exchange Grahams American Monthly Magazine, Jun. 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 Problem with Saying, "Lord Willing and the Creek Don't Rise" Donate via PayPal. And yes, I have heard the music of this culture and watched the dancing. 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. Baines Creek is a small remote mountain settlement in North Carolina where many can't read, education is unheard of and catastrophic poverty is the norm. Someone once said that when you visit the South, you need a translator. 50 of the Best Southern Sayings | Serving Up Southern He would tell the audience that we would meet again, "If the good Lord's willin', and the creek don't rise". But, what we do know is English once used you and ye strictly to address a group of people. Well, I found it. [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. 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. John Wayne. Charles Wilson said the flood waters are something he has to live with to enjoy residing on the river. In the 1900s, the word evolved, taking on a Southern spin as well as new meanings such as "courage" and "get-up-and-go.". Accents vary by regionand sometimes even city to city. It's a vivid phrase, and it's an accurate one too. No bigger than a minnow in a fishing pond is as tiny as can be. This was a Traveling Sister Read with Brenda, Sarah, Jennifer and Porshajo. Whether you're talking about volume or value, a hill of beans isn't worth much. A multipurpose Southernism. What is the origin of the phrase the good Lord willing and the creek dont rise? 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 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 1800s and 1900s were much simpler times, as people didn't have the luxuries afforded in modern times. It mentions . A rising creek could spell trouble, as it can lead to flooding and other issues. If the Creek Don't Rise Quotes Showing 1-14 of 14 "Times like these I wonder if I ever been happy. 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. Many thanks to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for the ARC in return for an unbiased review. 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. Its not a recent change. 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. As they returned home, some of them also killed some settlers in the Ohio valley. Can't Never Could. However, this is clearly one of those evolving language cases. "If the Creek Don't Rise" We'll be there unless something out of our control stops us. Yelling out this humorous backronym for sh*tmight just tame the anger a bit. 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. Not one shred of evidence is a clear invitation to fault the writer. It was a big old chunk of a book, so only a couple of the kids including myself read it. and the word HOPE. Some say it originated with the Scottish-Irish term ye aw. Two years after the signing of the treaty, Benjamin Hawkins died at the site known as Old Agency. 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. And, when the doins been done, the feller done did it. Who better to write about the risks of the Creek rising in revolt? This was the phrase that he always used, at the end of each performance. 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! (I would not be surprised to discover that the last contributor on your first link is none other than our own samclem.). The researchers went on to cite two different publications in the 1800s in which the authors did not capitalize the word creek, leading one to believe they did not mean the people proper. It seems this saying is a favorite expression of country singers. For instance, I might promise to show up for Christmas at Grandmas if the good Lords willing and the creek dont rise. The catchphrase itself was associated with Hank Williams. However, with the west in flames, both whites and Indians began organizing fighters. Now, she admits to saying this to her children. Hardy citizens awoken by first responders urging evacuation Threats not only from abroad, but internally as well, forced the fledgling nation to negotiate treaties with the tribes on the western frontier. It's raining cats and dogs. 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. And yes, they roll their eyes, too. 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. 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. If you hear this one, it's best to slow down. You will have spotted that neither of these capitalises creek, which suggests they didnt have the Creek people in mind. After eating a big, delicious Southern dinner Granny just made, you have to finish up with a slice of sweet potato pie, right? The earliest example known is this mock rustic speech: Feller-citizens Im not customed to public speakin before sich highfalutin audiences. If the Creek Don't Rise. Share. While in the south, Hawkins was requested by the President of the U.S. to return to Washington. 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. 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. Baines Creek, high up in the Appalachian mountain, a poor place filled with impoverished people, a place where moonshine is king. Yes, I had heard of the Appalachians and how the culture spreads along those mountains over more than a dozen States. 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. 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! If the creek rises, travel will be impossible and Ill never get to Grannys. 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. And that is the highest praise from me. 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. 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. It's a more conditional statement of intent than come hell or high water. "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. Pot callin the kettle black. Older than Methuselah. HARDY, Ark. Ain't got no dog in that race. The exact tranlation might be, 'If God is willing, and there isn't a flood that would prevent us from meeting again next week'. A friend of mine told me to shoot first and ask questions later. 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. The doin hasnt been done yet. This is a high compliment in the South, since Southern states are known for their peaches. (the good) Lord willing and the creek don't rise rural If all goes as it should; if everything goes well. Therefore if the Lord is willing and the Creek don't rise up and start up another uprising or battle, we will be able complete what ever it is we intend to do. https://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=Lord_willing_and_the_creek_don%27t_rise&oldid=70955250. If so, you know that being madder than a wet hen is very mad indeed. The proper phrase is Lord willing and the Creek don't rise. 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). What's The Difference Between Y'all And Ya'll? Required fields are marked *. DeSantis's year-long quest to strip Disney of its self-rule came after the entertainment giant, and Florida's . And yes, they roll their eyes, too. I always took it as a reference to the level of water in a creek. Select your currency from the list and click Donate. If the Creek Don't Rise by Leah Weiss | Goodreads Ireckon is the way many Southerners get to surmising about something or other. All the ones I know from growin up : r/ShitSouthernersSay It can be summarised as "if all goes well". 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. And really, wouldn't we all druther have our druthers? Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. If you hear this one, you should probably pause a moment. Is this derivation correct? History: God Willing And The Creek Dont Rise The only requirement is that you declare it loud and proud. The word you use for a fizzy, carbonated drink reveals a lot more about you than you know. But we declareif your only knowledge of Southern sayings comes fromGone With the Wind, youre missing out on a lot of Southern expressions.