if the creek don't rise saying
You Cant Use These English Words In The UK, Understanding Black History: 10 Terms That Illuminate The Black Experience In The US. But, in the South, if your boss says that dog wont hunt in a meeting, it probably means your suggestion or idea needs improvement. Paperback, 305 pages. In his experience, it doesnt take much for local creeks and streams to cause trouble. 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 proper phrase is Lord willing and the Creek don't rise. What is the origin of the phrase the good Lord willing and the creek dont rise? Accents vary by regionand sometimes even city to city. Can't Never Could. I always took it as a reference to the level of water in a creek. Learn how your comment data is processed. She's seventeen, pregnant and two weeks into her marriage to Roy Tupkin, after enduring brutal beatings, Sadie knows she has made a mistake. Southerners tell it like it isno matter what it isso think of this as a learning moment. The expression "the creek don't rise" is an American slang expression implying strong intentions subject to complete frustration by uncommon but not unforeseeable events. A multipurpose Southernism. Come visit me at LeahWeiss.com where you can subscribe to my CREEKRISE author news. Some newspaper clippings are harder to determine which meaning they meant. There is a lot of controversy about this fairly common folk saying. 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. TOP 25 QUOTES BY JOHN WAYNE (of 133) | A-Z Quotes This was the phrase that he always used, at the end of each performance. And, when the doins been done, the feller done did it. Georgia-born blogger Jennifer Collins says she always rolled her eyes when her mom said this to her. Throughout the years, through these floods, weve had several roads that have washed completely out, so you just dont know whats down there.. A strikingly sincere portrait of a town and its buried secrets from an outstanding new voice in southern fiction. Like trying to meet a friend for lunch but having the car breakdown on the way. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. An odd few (6% of Americans) do use soft drink, according to the Pop vs. Theres no better zinger than a bless your heart delivered in a condescending tone of voice that implies, as the Southern Decoder puts it, youre dumb, homely, or otherwise impaired, but you cant help it.Go ahead and practice it in the mirror a few times. Though youre likely to hear Southernisms such as. It is a physical and mental state a few degrees past weary and just this side of dog-tired. [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. 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. Curiously, this word might have roots in offbeat British humor from the 1840s. 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.". Youd be in a real fix then. 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.. The catchphrase itself was associated with Hank Williams. 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. 132 Copy quote. 15 Kentucky Sayings Other People Wouldn't Understand - OnlyInYourState Affixes dictionary. As was the case with Dr Mattox, the remark is routinely attributed to first being said by Benjamin Hawkins. Other words sites The exact tranlation might be, 'If God is willing, and there isn't a flood that would prevent us from meeting again next week'. This string of double negatives is actually meant as encouragement! 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. Your first citation is much stronger than your second. The story of Benjamin Hawkins relationship with the Creek,Cherokee, Choctaw and Chickasaw Indians goes back to 1786, when America was working on solidifying its hold on the new nation. This is a point of emphasis and exclamation that often ends without any additional telling at all. This phrase can be intensified by the addition of the word "way," as in "way over yonder.". I agree that the Indian origin sounds unlikely. Be it Gods will, or, we go to war, my plans will go according to one of those two choices. 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. It seems this saying is a favorite expression of country singers. My officers and fire department, we went along the river houses and notified everybody and recommended evacuation, said Hardy Police Chief Scott Rose. The creek don't rise - Wikipedia Actually this is not proven. 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. If you find only minnows, though, they look even smaller compared to the heavy catch you hoped for. The Creek were a tribe of Native Americans (indians) who would ambush people who were traveling West. Older than Methuselah. Lord willing and the creek don't rise - Wiktionary Im told it was a sign-off tag line of the 1930s US radio broadcaster Bradley Kincaid. An exclamationof surprise, anger, happiness, really any emotionthat is appropriate in nearly every Southern scenario. 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. 'Creek don't rise' is a phrase with possibly more than one meaning "All get out" finds its way into Southern phrases constantly, and it intensifies any statement. You gonna do nothing?". Many thanks to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for the ARC in return for an unbiased review. The catchphrase itself was associated with Hank Williams. Your email address will not be published. If you hear this one, it's best to slow down. It mentions Benjamin Hawkins of the late 18th century, who was asked by the US president to go back to Washington. 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. This was an extremely enjoyable read! Copyright 2023 KAIT. Get help and learn more about the design. If you just heard your mama come home and you haven't finished your chores, she will definitely be "madder than a wet hen." 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).. There's two or three creeks," he said. He wrote it in response to a request from the President to return to our Nations Capital and the reference is not to a creek, but The Creek Indian Nation. IF THE CREEK DON'T RISE is character driven and one fine gritty and entertaining debut with one fine satisfying ending! As they returned home, some of them also killed some settlers in the Ohio valley. However, the first President to move to Washington was John Adams on 1 November 1800. At the same time there is some evidence that the creation of Fort Deposit (Fort Deposite) in Georgia was a cause of concern in that munitions and arms were stockpiled. Weiss has spun me upside down in this backward county in the Appalachian mountains and made a southerner out of me. Creek don't rise - phrase meaning and origin - Phrasefinder Kicked in the gut and sucker punched with one of the best books I have ever read. World Wide Words tries to record at least a part of this shifting wordscape by featuring new words, word histories, words in the news, and the curiosities of native English speech. The approximately 20,000 Creek Indians that still exist reside in Oklahoma. Poor little doggy. Maybe not all dogs were made for hunting some prefer the warmth of a fireplace and the comfort of your lap. In the 1900s, the word evolved, taking on a Southern spin as well as new meanings such as "courage" and "get-up-and-go.". Another publication, Proceedings of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge Jurisdiction, Volumes 88-89, coins the phrase: if the Lord is willing and the creek dont fire, we will so do. Theres probably a connection between eternal damnation and tarnation. 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. If the creek rises, travel will be impossible and Ill never get to Grannys. To cover your bases you might say, "I'll see you then if the creek don't rise." And of course, there's nothing prettier than a warm summer day picking peaches in the sunshine. Lord willing and the creek don't rise, we'll have that new barn finished in time for the harvest. And yes, they roll their eyes, too. Do You Know These Sizzlin Southern Sayings. Georgia-born blogger Jennifer Collins says she always rolled her eyes when her mom said this to her. Firsts, Mines, Asks. The Lafayette gazette(Louisiana), 3 Nov. 1894. This string of double negatives is actually meant as encouragement! 15 Odd Southern Sayings Their Origins - Bourbon and Boots You may still hear it if you stop into a country store. 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. While in the south, Hawkins was requested by the President of the U.S. to return to Washington. Thats exactly who I was hoping would reply to my question. 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 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. You will have spotted that neither of these capitalises creek, which suggests they didnt have the Creek people in mind. "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. A sister who is afraid of losing her brother and Sadie's grandmother and aunt, all tell their stories adding to Sadie's own. The clipping below from 1892 is a reference to flooding waterways not allowing the postmaster to get to his office. 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. All the ones I know from growin up : r/ShitSouthernersSay "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." Feller-citizens Im not customed to public speakin before sich highfalutin audiences. When you're fixin' to do something, it's going to happen, but you also may decide to take your sweet time. Thats a mouthful, but we lumped these all together because they are allsubstitutes for (God) d*mn it. Which means if nothing crazy happens or anything out my control such as a natural disaster. If the Creek rose, Hawkins would have to be present to quell the rebellion. writes one commentator.. 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. If the Good Lord's Willing and the Creek Don't Rise - Wikipedia HARDY, Ark. purchase. We admit that we've heard this Southernism more than once. God willing and the creek don't rise If all goes as it should; if everything goes well. Note that the Creek Nation(s) did not "rise" at all. "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]. I was going to ask him why, but I had to shoot him. 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. 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? It mentions . Or, depending on where you live, it could be Sewanee, the small college town in Tennessee. Its not a recent change. You dont know whats underneath that water, Rose said. False folk etymology. 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. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. 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 phrase isn't about physical appearance. All rights reserved. The underscore of that sentiment would be that he married his common-law wife on his deathbed and she was of the Creek Indians. "Well I s'wanee" evokes the Southern Suwannee River. 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. It happens often during a Southern summer, when the heat rises and the temperatures shoot past 100. Its a more conditional statement of intent than come hell or high water. Most of the ones on paved roads had bridges or culverts by that time, but not all of them and everyone still clearly knew what that saying meant even if the threat wasnt very real anymore. The saying "God willing and the Creek don't rise." Came from those traveling west in the OLD DAYS. "Druthers" roughly translates to "I would rather," meaning, "If had things my way" The phrase is celebrated in song in the hilarious, Southern-inspired Broadway musical Li'l Abner, in which the title character sings "If I had my druthers, I'd druther have my druthers than anything else I know." Somehow, the word went full circle and is now considered a distinctly Southern invention. No matter where you go in Kentucky, the people often have some colorful expressions. The second contributor on the AOL site is simply repeating things without any understanding. What's The Difference Between Y'all And Ya'll? "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 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. Region 8 News on Twitter: ""You've heard that old saying, 'I'll be In the Deep South? If the Creek Don't Rise: A Novel - Leah Weiss - Google Books Disney lost control of its Florida kingdom for opposing the "Don't Say To understand Hawkins, I read a little further into his history. Maya Rodale is a best-selling romance author. Unarguable Southern criticism. 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. God willing and the creek don't rise - World Wide Words The doin hasnt been done yet. 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. Does a bear shit in the woods? 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. 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. I see said the blind man to his deaf wife. In his reply, he was said to have written, God willing and the Creek dont rise. It has been noted that the phrase should be correctly written as God willing and the Creek dont rise. 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. 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. Not one shred of evidence is a clear invitation to fault the writer. This book reminds me of that. 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. 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. If so, you know that being madder than a wet hen is very mad indeed. If the Creek Don't Rise. Learn how your comment data is processed. The Lafayette gazette (Louisiana), 3 Nov. 1894. Southerners adopted this phrase wholeheartedly from its early usages in 1700s England and Scotland (where it meant "common sense"). 30 Phrases Only Southerners Use And yes, I have heard the music of this culture and watched the dancing. While there, we happened upon a museum dedicated to the Underground Railroad. Hang onto both and 'tough it out'. 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. A: "Do you reckon we'll have enough from this harvest to make ends meet?" B: "God willing and the creek don't rise." Chief Rose is asking drivers to be cautious while out and about. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Yes, I had heard of the Appalachians and how the culture spreads along those mountains over more than a dozen States. Andrew Jackson sent a request for reinforcements before the Battle Of New Orleans. When I was growing up, this was something we said all of the time. 'Cause everything's fine, God, I wish it were . Dylan LeBlanc - If The Creek Don't Rise Lyrics | Genius Lyrics "If the Creek Don't Rise" We'll be there unless something out of our control stops us. But did he really say the words quoted or was a phrase morphed to include him as the author? A handful of rivers and streams will be out of their banks by Friday evening and Saturday morning. Cant never could is a reminder that if you dont even try, you wont ever accomplish your goal. Sentences With "Lord willing and the creek don't rise" | Random Well, at least we thought we did.but maybe not. While in the south, Hawkins was requested by the President of the U.S. to return to Washington. Let me love you again, give me one more try. 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. On his deathbed he married the Creek woman who had been his common-law wife. 1851. Some say it originated with the Scottish-Irish term ye aw. Where did this contraction, popular in both African American English and Southern American English, come from? 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. 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. The expression is incorrectly attributed on modern social media[citation needed] to an Indian agent, Benjamin Hawkins, in the late 18th century in a rumored letter not found in any archive to the U.S. President. The most interesting often hail from our older generations, such as the WWII era and those raised by them. 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. 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. The phrase may be accompanied by a gesture indicating north, south, east, or west. (LogOut/ If the Creek Don't Rise|Paperback - Barnes & Noble 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. DeSantis ends Disney's free reign over Florida's "Don't Say Gay" bill. 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.
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