if the creek don't rise saying

A rising creek could spell trouble, as it can lead to flooding and other issues. Leah Weiss introduces her extraordinary characters as chapters unfold and each one has their own peculiarity. 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.. It turns out that the phrase was written by Benjamin Hawkins in the late 18th century. Its worth looking into because of the way in which it has been elaborated in the version you quote. Settle in, because whatever we're talking about is going to take all day. 1851. However, this is clearly one of those evolving language cases. 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.. 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!. There is no typical Southern accent. It is sometimes thought that the word "Creek" instead refers to the Creek Indians, but this is unlikely. There is no reason to suppose the Indian variant is true. If you're trying to be nice, but you just can't quite let it go, "bless your heart" is a go-to. A: "Do you reckon we'll have enough from this harvest to make ends meet?" 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. If so, you know that being madder than a wet hen is very mad indeed. 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. The second contributor on the AOL site is simply repeating things without any understanding. Neither provides any documentation: http://pub122.ezboard.com/fwordoriginsorgfrm2.showMessage?topicID=191.topic, http://members.aol.com/MorelandC/HaveOriginsData.htm#LordWillingAndTheCreek. And that is the highest praise from me. It's a vivid phrase, and it's an accurate one too. Some say farmers used to dunk their hens when they got broody. (Or maybe the Piggly Wiggly, a Southern market chain that originated in Memphis, Tennessee). Nor is grammar an argument in favor the the subject being plural. 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. Theres probably a connection between eternal damnation and tarnation. But we declareif your only knowledge of Southern sayings comes fromGone With the Wind, youre missing out on a lot of Southern expressions. I grew up with that saying and Ive said it more times than I can count. 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. It completely nailed the "mountain living" that I remembered my grandmother talking about. Doh! Threats not only from abroad, but internally as well, forced the fledgling nation to negotiate treaties with the tribes on the western frontier. https://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=Lord_willing_and_the_creek_don%27t_rise&oldid=70955250. Your email address will not be published. Theres two or three creeks, he said. Origin debaters point to Col. Benjamin Hawkins of North Carolina, a Continental Congress senator. 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. It's a more conditional statement of intent than come hell or high water. Is It Called Presidents Day Or Washingtons Birthday? Curiously, this word might have roots in offbeat British humor from the 1840s. 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. During the course of his 21 years in these positions he would oversee the longest period of peace with theCreek, only to watch his lifetime of work destroyed by a faction of this Indian Nation known as the Red Sticks during the War of 1812. "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." 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. 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. However, the first President to move to Washington was John Adams on 1 November 1800. But, in the South, if your boss says that dog wont hunt in a meeting, it probably means your suggestion or idea needs improvement. 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. If youre not using this phrase what are you waiting for? A very young, newly married pregnant woman, she vows her no good moonshining husband has beaten her for the last time. 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. An odd few (6% of Americans) do use soft drink, according to the Pop vs. It can be summarised as if all goes well. Wow! When the road looks rough ahead, remember the 'Man upstairs'. This United Statesrelated article is a stub. Required fields are marked *. 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. Get help and learn more about the design. The catchphrase itself was associated with Hank Williams. Historically, Southerners in the Appalachian mountains pronounced eternal as tarnal. That pronunciation suggests a clever word-smoosh between tarnal and damnation, so the savvy Appalachians could euphemistically express their anger without wasting an extra breath. 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. A Quite certainly not. Yelling out this humorous backronym for sh*tmight just tame the anger a bit. I was going to ask him why, but I had to shoot him. Accents vary by regionand sometimes even city to city. 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. The phrase may be accompanied by a gesture indicating north, south, east, or west. Copyright Michael Quinion, 1996. Copy furnished by Net Galley for the price of a review. 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. Youd be in a real fix then. And of course, there's nothing prettier than a warm summer day picking peaches in the sunshine. And, when the doins been done, the feller done did it. I always took it as a reference to the level of water in a creek. That means whatever you're talking about is worth less than very little. Like trying to meet a friend for lunch but having the car breakdown on the way. World Wide Words is copyright Michael Quinion, 1996. Feller-citizens Im not customed to public speakin before sich highfalutin audiences. 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. Copyright 2023 KAIT. The catchphrase itself was associated with Hank Williams. Is this derivation correct? 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. We do our best to keep our promises, but sometimes unforeseen circumstances come up. I'm a sucker for the well turned phrase and I was highlighting sentences here, one after another. To cover your bases you might say, "I'll see you then if the creek don't rise." Well, hells bells. Runnin around like a chicken with it's head . 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. When you're in the South, "over yonder" is a distant directionany direction. Oh, if the good Lord's willing and the creek don't rise. Then theres a long gap in the record before it began to appear again in the 1950s. You dont know whats underneath that water, Rose said. It was so enjoyable and fun reading and discussing the book with them. No, we don't mean you need to go fix your hair. 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. Look up Lord willing and the creek don't rise in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. Catawampus(or, cattywampus) may have been popularized by Brits who delighted in parodying Southern vernacular. 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. (Yes, it is terrible grammar, but that is how it is said. Given that many small farm streams were crossed without bridges, which worked find most of the time, a swollen stream would cause problems. Where did this contraction, popular in both African American English and Southern American English, come from? If we relied on written sources it would be hard to believe in such continued use. The clipping below from 1892 is a reference to flooding waterways not allowing the postmaster to get to his office. However, if you're from the South, you know that sometimes there's just no other way to get your point across. Tensions between settlers and both tribes had been rising following the Treaty of Augusta and the land cessions of 1782-1783. Marty Stuart places the words "If the Good Lord's willin' and the creek don't rise, we'll see you in the mornin'." Can't Never Could. 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. You Cant Use These English Words In The UK, Understanding Black History: 10 Terms That Illuminate The Black Experience In The US. To understand Hawkins, I read a little further into his history. Grahams American Monthly Magazine, Jun. In response to a request that he return to Washington D.C., he wrote, "God willing and the Creek don't rise." Who better to write about the risks of the Creek rising in revolt? But despite its gentle execution, this story delivers some of the heaviest of punches and invites the reader to step outside of the book for a spell Gumption is spirit, courage, spunk, boldness, and initiative. It mentions Benjamin Hawkins of the late 18th century, who was asked by the US president to go back to Washington. 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.". 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. I've been in a slump of just ok books and was craving one that was special. [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. Well, I found it. If the Creek Don't Rise is a collection of hard-used characters, tangled relationships, family angst, and fortitude. 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. Its a one-size-fits-all reply that can both express sympathy and insult someone, depending on the delivery. I will be at church on Sunday. When you're fixin' to do something, it's going to happen, but you also may decide to take your sweet time. This string of double negatives is actually meant as encouragement! The most interesting often hail from our older generations, such as the WWII era and those raised by them. This string of double negatives is actually meant as encouragement! Come visit me at LeahWeiss.com where you can subscribe to my CREEKRISE author news. The written record dates the saying from about the middle of the nineteenth century. on, This page was last edited on 22 January 2022, at 17:42. Note that the Creek Nation(s) did not rise at all. Someone kicked in with we say cricks. I agree that the Indian origin sounds unlikely. 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. Be it Gods will, or, we go to war, my plans will go according to one of those two choices. Oh, how I loved this story - I simply didnt want it to end! But did he really say the words quoted or was a phrase morphed to include him as the author? It was a big old chunk of a book, so only a couple of the kids including myself read it. It turns out that the phrase was written by Benjamin Hawkins in the late 18th century. What Grandma says when you pull in the driveway, pop out of the car, and come running. Thats a mouthful, but we lumped these all together because they are allsubstitutes for (God) d*mn it. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Maybe not all dogs were made for hunting some prefer the warmth of a fireplace and the comfort of your lap. We've had a lot of delays, but God willing and the creek don't rise, we should have the house finished before winter. 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). 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! 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! "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]. If the Creek Don't Rise Quotes Showing 1-14 of 14 "Times like these I wonder if I ever been happy. Lyndon Johnsons wife Lady Bird was fond of the phrase, and she wasnt one to cast aspersions on native Americans. This is our creative way of saying that you shouldn't crow like a rooster about your wealth and belonging today, because it could all disappear tomorrow. 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. She's not looking for sweets; she wants a hug and a kiss. !, Reckon has ancestry tracing all the way back to the 1000s (and maybe older still), and originally means to count, calculate.. Select your currency from the list and click Donate. While there, we happened upon a museum dedicated to the Underground Railroad. Although he admits when the rain starts to fall, it makes him a little nervous. Because he capitalized Creek its asserted that he was referring to the Creek Indian tribe and not a body of water. 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. 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. Grahams American Monthly Magazine, Jun. 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. 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. Maya Rodale is a best-selling romance author. The tale is widely reproduced and believed nevertheless. An exclamationof surprise, anger, happiness, really any emotionthat is appropriate in nearly every Southern scenario. 1851. Turn around, and please dont drive through it. At the time Hawkins was Congressman, he joined other well known Southeastern American leaders in negotiating a major treaty with the Creek and Cherokee at the South Carolina city of Hopewell. A preacher who hires a very different kind of woman than is usually found in these parts. It was bad as all get out. 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. 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. No matter where you go in Kentucky, the people often have some colorful expressions. Eli is the backbone of the community; all he wants is a better life for the people of Baines Creek evidenced by the succession of teachers he has procured.and been scared off, and his scheming troublemaking spinster of a sister Prudence who "don't like nobody" doesn't help matters any, but when the giant 6' 2" Kate Shaw arrives, wellthat's another story. 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. 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. This book reminds me of that. 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. Positive thinking, Southern style. "Well I s'wanee" evokes the Southern Suwannee River. HARDY, Ark. Poor little doggy. It seems this saying is a favorite expression of country singers. A handful of rivers and streams will be out of their banks by Friday evening and Saturday morning. 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 Good Lord willing and the 'creek' don't rise" is just one of them. Speaking ofI declare, this now old-fashioned phrase acts as flustered response to an insult or an unbelievable story about someone who sadly made it into the rumor mill. The tale is widely reproduced and believed nevertheless. Learn how your comment data is processed. "All get out" finds its way into Southern phrases constantly, and it intensifies any statement. 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. Anytime it rains as hard as it did last night, it always brings back fears of having to face something like we did in 1984, he said. It mentions . Yes, I had heard of the Appalachians and how the culture spreads along those mountains over more than a dozen States. Donate via PayPal. Though youre likely to hear Southernisms such as. As was the case with Dr Mattox, the remark is routinely attributed to first being said by Benjamin Hawkins. 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. in Williams' mouth in his tribute album Hillbilly Heaven. You may still hear it if you stop into a country store. All rights reserved. The 1800s and 1900s were much simpler times, as people didn't have the luxuries afforded in modern times. Chief Rose is asking drivers to be cautious while out and about. by Leah Weiss. 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. Some newspaper clippings are harder to determine which meaning they meant. You gonna let him break your spirit, too? Your first citation is much stronger than your second. the creek don't rise. Someone reminded me not to be reminded of you. A friend of mine told me to shoot first and ask questions later. DeSantis's year-long quest to strip Disney of its self-rule came after the entertainment giant, and Florida's . Which means if nothing crazy happens or anything out my control such as a natural disaster. This page was last edited on 17 January 2023, at 01:18. And, good Lord willing and the creek don't rise, come March of next year, I'll be 225 years old. Take a look at some of our favorite Southern sayings that we just couldn't live without. 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.

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