Ireckon is the way many Southerners get to surmising about something or other. When you're in the South, "over yonder" is a distant directionany direction. 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. Nor is grammar an argument in favor the the subject being plural. Im told it was a sign-off tag line of the 1930s US radio broadcaster Bradley Kincaid. Donate via PayPal. What in tarnation? 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. However, if you're from the South, you know that sometimes there's just no other way to get your point across. It's a more conditional statement of intent than come hell or high water. Any of you word experts have solid information? 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.. If you've read the book summary, you already know Sadie Blue lives with a devil of a man, but she's not the only one who has lived with a wife beater of a husband. The distinct English dialect of the American South, which has a close relationship with Black English (African American Vernacular English), is fascinatingand plenty lively. Siever, known as Nolichucky Jack to his friends, was as brutal to the Cherokee and Creek as they were to him, but Siever knew to frame his attacks as responses to incursion or wrongs. It's raining cats and dogs. It mentions . Its typically used to describe a situation thats gone askew, awry, or out of alignment. When the road looks rough ahead, remember the 'Man upstairs'. We've had a lot of delays, but God willing and the creek don't rise, we should have the house finished before winter. I am feeling culture shock from reading this book. 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. Feller-citizens Im not customed to public speakin before sich highfalutin audiences. A true Southern tradition. 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!! And yes, they roll their eyes, too. Many thanks to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for the ARC in return for an unbiased review. 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. In the 1900s, the word evolved, taking on a Southern spin as well as new meanings such as "courage" and "get-up-and-go.". If you just heard your mama come home and you haven't finished your chores, she will definitely be "madder than a wet hen." The Creek were a tribe of Native Americans (indians) who would ambush people who were traveling West. He was a politician and Indian agent. 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. Lyndon Johnsons wife Lady Bird was fond of the phrase, and she wasnt one to cast aspersions on native Americans. The underscore of that sentiment would be that he married his common-law wife on his deathbed and she was of the Creek Indians. Doh! Anything to the degree of "all get out" is something to talk about. It is a physical and mental state a few degrees past weary and just this side of dog-tired. God willing and the creek don't rise If all goes as it should; if everything goes well. (the good) Lord willing and the creek don't rise rural If all goes as it should; if everything goes well. The request was to a general that had troops near Horseshoe Bend Alabama, protecting settlers against a Creek Indian uprising. Copyright 2023 KAIT. It completely nailed the "mountain living" that I remembered my grandmother talking about. 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. This one originates from the 19th century, when Carter Products marketed "Little Liver Pills" across the country. Then theres a long gap in the record before it began to appear again in the 1950s. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. 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! 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. If the good Lord's willin and the creek don't rise. The earliest example known is this mock rustic speech: Feller-citizens Im not customed to public speakin before sich highfalutin audiences. This phrase isn't about physical appearance. Baines Creek, high up in the Appalachian mountain, a poor place filled with impoverished people, a place where moonshine is king. The exact tranlation might be, 'If God is willing, and there isn't a flood that would prevent us from meeting again next week'. If the Creek Don't Rise by Leah Weiss (Author), Tom Stechschulte (Narrator), Kate Forbes (Narrator). This book reminds me of that. Learn how your comment data is processed. (Yes, it is terrible grammar, but that is how it is said. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. You gonna do nothing?". However, with the west in flames, both whites and Indians began organizing fighters. But, in the South, if your boss says that dog wont hunt in a meeting, it probably means your suggestion or idea needs improvement. They had a conversation in which the phrase was discussed and noted as being about the Creek Indians. A search for the word rise does not produce this phrase, so it appears that the body of water theory was correct after all. 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. 1851. An exclamationof surprise, anger, happiness, really any emotionthat is appropriate in nearly every Southern scenario. It turns out that the phrase was written by Benjamin Hawkins in the late 18th century. 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. Do You Know These Sizzlin Southern Sayings. He would tell the audience that we would meet again, "If the good Lord's willin', and the creek don't rise". The word you use for a fizzy, carbonated drink reveals a lot more about you than you know. Cookies and privacy The most interesting often hail from our older generations, such as the WWII era and those raised by them. And that is the highest praise from me. 132 Copy quote. It can be summarised as if all goes well. Wow! Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. 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. Neither provides any documentation: http://pub122.ezboard.com/fwordoriginsorgfrm2.showMessage?topicID=191.topic, http://members.aol.com/MorelandC/HaveOriginsData.htm#LordWillingAndTheCreek. It seems this saying is a favorite expression of country singers. Someone kicked in with we say cricks. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. She's not looking for sweets; she wants a hug and a kiss. Its especially difficult for people that live south of River Road and some of them that live in Woodland Hills. 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 For instance if someone invites you to church on Sunday, you would respond "I'll be there with bells on God Willing and the Creek Don't Rise.". When I was growing up, this was something we said all of the time. In his response, he was said to write, "God willing and the Creek don't rise." The thing isI read one that I have never stopped thinking about. Given that many small farm streams were crossed without bridges, which worked find most of the time, a swollen stream would cause problems. Accents vary by regionand sometimes even city to city. A Quite certainly not. It is a breathtaking and gritty portrayal of hillbilly life from the year 1970 which is set in the Appalachian Mountains. Page created 25 Feb. 2012, Problems viewing this page? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 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. It was bad as all get out. 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. "If the creek don't rise" is a slang phrase predominantly used in the Southeastern United States and can translate to "if all goes well." It's a more conditional action statement than the famous phrase "come hell or high water." Apparently Carter had a great many pills, because the phrase found its way into the Southern vocabulary. Change). All rights reserved. The only requirement is that you declare it loud and proud. Lord willing and the creek don't rise, we'll have that new barn finished in time for the harvest. Maybe not all dogs were made for hunting some prefer the warmth of a fireplace and the comfort of your lap. Your first citation is much stronger than your second. 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. Poor little doggy. Well, at least we thought we did.but maybe not. 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. 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. Over yonder down the road. by Leah Weiss. 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. "If The Good Lord's Willing and The Creek Don't Rise" is a 1955 American country song by Jerry Reed which was particularly popularized by the 1958 recording of Johnny Cash and has been covered by multiple artists.[1]. Powered by Discourse, best viewed with JavaScript enabled, origin of phrase - "if the creek 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. 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.. Be it Gods will, or, we go to war, my plans will go according to one of those two choices. Devil's beating his wife (when it would be sunny and raining). Get help and learn more about the design. A preacher who hires a very different kind of woman than is usually found in these parts. Yes, I had heard of the Appalachians and how the culture spreads along those mountains over more than a dozen States. The clipping below from 1892 is a reference to flooding waterways not allowing the postmaster to get to his office. I doubt it will ever be possible to prove the source of some of these old sayings,but they sure are alot of funThis post set me a thinkin bout some things we grew up saying that we took from our eldersfor example when one is astonished you say Oh my Stars! Or when you havent seen someone in awhile you say I aint seen Hide nor Hair of em since..and there was plenty of times I was toldquit rootin around an causin such a ruckass!usually refering to me being in Granmas gardenand one can never forget the simpleSkeedaddle! Now the devil may knowWhere those sayings come from. 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. So the saying came about like we'll be there.God willing and the Creek (indians) don't rise..to stop 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. While there, we happened upon a museum dedicated to the Underground Railroad. Select your currency from the list and click Donate. Used in a sentence - If the creek don't rise and God's willing, you should be able to see this video. "He broke bout every piece of sweet in you. 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). 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!. In response to a request that he return to Washington D.C., he wrote, "God willing and the Creek don't rise." Actually this is not proven. You Cant Use These English Words In The UK, Understanding Black History: 10 Terms That Illuminate The Black Experience In The US. Older than Methuselah. No bigger than a minnow in a fishing pond is as tiny as can be. Origin debaters point to Col. Benjamin Hawkins of North Carolina, a Continental Congress senator. It is sometimes thought that the word "Creek" instead refers to the Creek Indians, but this is 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. When you're fixin' to do something, it's going to happen, but you also may decide to take your sweet time. Someone reminded me not to be reminded of you. It happens often during a Southern summer, when the heat rises and the temperatures shoot past 100. Over yonder toward the water tower. Your email address will not be published. A rising creek could spell trouble, as it can lead to flooding and other issues. Andrew Jackson sent a request for reinforcements before the Battle Of New Orleans. (Im terrible about reading usernames as I scan threads, and I completely missed who had contributed that comment.). The Lafayette gazette (Louisiana), 3 Nov. 1894. Kicked in the gut and sucker punched with one of the best books I have ever read. Though youre likely to hear Southernisms such as. My officers and fire department, we went along the river houses and notified everybody and recommended evacuation, said Hardy Police Chief Scott Rose. Only 15 days into her marriage to Roy Tupkin and Sadie Blue is already . Have you ever seen a wet hen? 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 was a Traveling Sister Read with Brenda, Sarah, Jennifer and Porshajo. Not one shred of evidence is a clear invitation to fault the writer. 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. What better way to sweeten the sour than with a classic Southern libation? Does a bear shit in the woods? If God Is Willing and Da Creek Don't Rise, If the Good Lord's Willing and the Creek Don't Rise, Good Lord's Willin and The Creek Don't Rise, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_creek_don%27t_rise&oldid=1136534691, This page was last edited on 30 January 2023, at 20:39. The tale is widely reproduced and believed nevertheless. 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. I'm fixin' to tell you that this phrase is as Southern as sweet tea. And of course, there's nothing prettier than a warm summer day picking peaches in the sunshine. Cows aren't known for their speed, and they are usually out and about, wandering until feeding time. Two years after the signing of the treaty, Benjamin Hawkins died at the site known as Old Agency. If the creek rises, travel will be impossible and Ill never get to Grannys. 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. 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. Whether you're talking about volume or value, a hill of beans isn't worth much. Thats exactly who I was hoping would reply to my question. This means that if everything continues to plan, things will be okay. The expression ". I agree that the Indian origin sounds unlikely. If you think you can't, you won't be able to accomplish something, but if you think you can, you'll succeed. 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. It can be summarised as "if all goes well". 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. This article about the English language is a stub. 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.". But did he really say the words quoted or was a phrase morphed to include him as the author? Curiously, this word might have roots in offbeat British humor from the 1840s. Statements of the form "God/Lord willing and (some other condition being met)" are ancient extensions of simple acceptance of God's will in phrases like God willing and Lord willing. It's often said in a reassuring way, to calm people down and encourage them to keep on trying. If you find only minnows, though, they look even smaller compared to the heavy catch you hoped for. 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. 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. If you're trying to be nice, but you just can't quite let it go, "bless your heart" is a go-to. While this phrase may sound made up, it's simply our multisyllabic manner of saying something is askew. Jan 29, 2014 at 19:34 . Georgia-born blogger Jennifer Collins says she always rolled her eyes when her mom said this to her. Instead of "Well, I swear," Southerners have adopted a geographically inspired alternative. 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. If you refer to itno matter the brand or flavoras Coke, chances are you grew up in the South. Your email address will not be published. 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. 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. "The Good Lord willing and the 'creek' don't rise" is just one of them. 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. I grew up with that saying and Ive said it more times than I can count. Johnny Cash had a hit with the song If The Good Lords Willing, and Hank Williams Jr. titled his song If the Good Lords Willin (And The Creeks Dont Rise).. Somehow, the word went full circle and is now considered a distinctly Southern invention. Threats not only from abroad, but internally as well, forced the fledgling nation to negotiate treaties with the tribes on the western frontier. [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. It is a quintessential Southern phrase, said by friends and family on porches and in rocking chairs all across the South. (KAIT) - Its been a busy 24 hours for first responders in Sharp County. 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. This was an extremely enjoyable read! I was going to ask him why, but I had to shoot him. 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. But in following verses the rhyme changes through "creeks don't rise", "creek stay low", back to "creeks don't rise". On his deathbed he married the Creek woman who had been his common-law wife. She's seventeen, pregnant and two weeks into her marriage to Roy Tupkin, after enduring brutal beatings, Sadie knows she has made a mistake. "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." Grahams American Monthly Magazine, Jun. As I was in a museum, I felt confident in repeating the knowledge to others as fact. 'Cause everything's fine, God, I wish it were . Just wait till you see what Granny Gladys does..with a bit of help from Mother Nature..hehehe. When a fellers fixin to do something, theyre about to do it. Theres two or three creeks, he said. 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. There is no reason to suppose the Indian variant is true. However, the first President to move to Washington was John Adams on 1 November 1800. 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. A strikingly sincere portrait of a town and its buried secrets from an outstanding new voice in southern fiction. 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. 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? Over yonder past the cotton field. 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. Note that the Creek Nation(s) did not rise at all. The grit and darkness don't just belong to Sadie, though. To cover your bases you might say, "I'll see you then if the creek don't rise." This string of double negatives is actually meant as encouragement! 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!. In fact, virtually all the examples that Ive found in books and newspaper archives down to the present day are in lower-case. This is a high compliment in the South, since Southern states are known for their peaches. 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. We didnt. If the Creek Don't Rise is a collection of hard-used characters, tangled relationships, family angst, and fortitude. If the Creek rose, Hawkins would have to be present to quell the rebellion. writes one commentator.. Copy furnished by Net Galley for the price of a review. And I have used this page's title often-feeling quite sure I knew exactly what it meant. Cant never could is a reminder that if you dont even try, you wont ever accomplish your goal. "Well I s'wanee" evokes the Southern Suwannee River. "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 that." 04 Mar 2023 03:30:05 Marty Stuart places the words "If the Good Lord's willin' and the creek don't rise, we'll see you in the mornin'." The saying "God willing and the Creek don't rise." Came from those traveling west in the OLD DAYS. (Or maybe the Piggly Wiggly, a Southern market chain that originated in Memphis, Tennessee). Copyright Michael Quinion, 1996. Required fields are marked *. I see said the blind man to his deaf wife. You may still hear it if you stop into a country store. Weiss has a unique voice. According to World Wide Words, when asked if it meant Creek Indians, their expert responded with: " Quite certainly not.
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