https://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=Lord_willing_and_the_creek_don%27t_rise&oldid=70955250. It seems this saying is a favorite expression of country singers. 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. Theres two or three creeks, he said. No bigger than a minnow in a fishing pond is as tiny as can be. Every researcher who has investigated the expression has dismissed an Indian connection as untrue. It can be summarised as if all goes well. Share. 50 of the Best Southern Sayings | Serving Up Southern (KAIT) - Its been a busy 24 hours for first responders in Sharp County. It was set in the Ozark mountains featuring what some people called a witch. "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." Well, at least we thought we did.but maybe not. 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. John Wayne. 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. 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. If the Creek Don't Rise Quotes Showing 1-14 of 14 "Times like these I wonder if I ever been happy. What Do Shrove Tuesday, Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday, And Lent Mean? This is a high compliment in the South, since Southern states are known for their peaches. After eating a big, delicious Southern dinner Granny just made, you have to finish up with a slice of sweet potato pie, right? It's raining cats and dogs. If you hear this one, it's best to slow down. She's seventeen, pregnant and two weeks into her marriage to Roy Tupkin, after enduring brutal beatings, Sadie knows she has made a mistake. 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. God Willing and the Creek Don't Rise | Native Heritage Project Origin debaters point to Col. Benjamin Hawkins of North Carolina, a Continental Congress senator. 132 Copy quote. 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. 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. This one originates from the 19th century, when Carter Products marketed "Little Liver Pills" across the country. A very young, newly married pregnant woman, she vows her no good moonshining husband has beaten her for the last time. When a fellers fixin to do something, theyre about to do it. But, what we do know is English once used you and ye strictly to address a group of people. While in the south, Hawkins was requested by the President of the U.S. to return to Washington. There is a lot of controversy about this fairly common folk saying. The word you use for a fizzy, carbonated drink reveals a lot more about you than you know. When you're in the South, "over yonder" is a distant directionany direction. Yelling out this humorous backronym for sh*tmight just tame the anger a bit. If the Creek Don't Rise. Unarguable Southern criticism. A handful of rivers and streams will be out of their banks by Friday evening and Saturday morning. The most interesting often hail from our older generations, such as the WWII era and those raised by them. HARDY, Ark. This was a Traveling Sister Read with Brenda, Sarah, Jennifer and Porshajo. If the Creek rose, Hawkins would have to be present to quell the rebellion. writes one commentator.. purchase. It mentions Benjamin Hawkins of the late 18th century, who was asked by the US president to go back to Washington. If the Creek Don't Rise by Leah Weiss | Goodreads The Lafayette gazette(Louisiana), 3 Nov. 1894. Marty Stuart places the words "If the Good Lord's willin' and the creek don't rise, we'll see you in the mornin'." Grahams American Monthly Magazine, Jun. She captures the whole Appalachian scene - the vocabulary, the falling down houses, the likker, the poverty. Can't Never Could. 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. All the ones I know from growin up : r/ShitSouthernersSay The written record dates the saying from about the middle of the nineteenth century. Like trying to meet a friend for lunch but having the car breakdown on the way. Poor little doggy. Required fields are marked *. I am feeling culture shock from reading this book. 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. Does a bear shit in the woods? "If the Creek Don't Rise" We'll be there unless something out of our control stops us. Your email address will not be published. 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. Do You Know These Sizzlin Southern Sayings. 15 Kentucky Sayings Other People Wouldn't Understand - OnlyInYourState In other words, Ill make it to Grandmas if the indians dont go on the warpath. Turn around, and please dont drive through it. 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 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. World Wide Words is copyright Michael Quinion, 1996. Nor is grammar an argument in favor the the subject being plural. Firsts, Mines, Asks. You dont know whats underneath that water, Rose said. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. 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. It was bad as all get out. You'll most often hear it coming out of Mama's mouth when the kids are running amok. If youre not using this phrase what are you waiting for? While there, we happened upon a museum dedicated to the Underground Railroad. 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!. the creek don't rise. This means that if everything continues to plan, things will be okay. If the good Lord's willin and the creek don't rise. It's often said in a reassuring way, to calm people down and encourage them to keep on trying. I was surprised as all get out. (Yes, it is terrible grammar, but that is how it is said. 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. [3] The capitalization of the word Creek supposedly referred to the Creek Indian tribe rather than a body of water.[4][5]. I absolutely loved the southern voice of these characters throughout this book. IF THE CREEK DON'T RISE is character driven and one fine gritty and entertaining debut with one fine satisfying ending! Because he capitalized Creek its asserted that he was referring to the Creek Indian tribe and not a body of water. If the creek rises, travel will be impossible and Ill never get to Grannys. 15 Odd Southern Sayings Their Origins - Bourbon and Boots The approximately 20,000 Creek Indians that still exist reside in Oklahoma. 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. the creek don't rise " is an American slang expression implying strong intentions subject to complete frustration by uncommon but not unforeseeable events. Thats exactly who I was hoping would reply to my question. If you just heard your mama come home and you haven't finished your chores, she will definitely be "madder than a wet hen." "If the good Lord's willing and the creek don't rise.". A sister who is afraid of losing her brother and Sadie's grandmother and aunt, all tell their stories adding to Sadie's own. Something needed to fill in the gap: Yall is one solution associated with the South, with all generally serving to clarify more than one you is being addressed. God willing and the creek don't rise If all goes as it should; if everything goes well. Theres probably a connection between eternal damnation and tarnation. 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 the Creek Don't Rise Quotes by Leah Weiss - Goodreads QFrom Bob Scala: An item that has been floating around the internet claims that the expression God willing and the creek dont rise referred to the Creek Indians, not a body of water. Given that many small farm streams were crossed without bridges, which worked find most of the time, a swollen stream would cause problems. 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. Every researcher who has investigated the expression has dismissed an Indian connection as untrue. Disney lost control of its Florida kingdom for opposing the "Don't Say Over yonder past the cotton field. When you arrive on the banks of the fishing pond on Saturday mornings, you're hoping for a good catchenough big catfish and bream to fry up for the family on Saturday night. It happens often during a Southern summer, when the heat rises and the temperatures shoot past 100. And yes, they roll their eyes, too. 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. My officers and fire department, we went along the river houses and notified everybody and recommended evacuation, said Hardy Police Chief Scott Rose. 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. You gonna let him break your spirit, too? Someone reminded me not to be reminded of you. 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! In the Deep South? 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. If the Creek Don't Rise by Leah Weiss (Author), Tom Stechschulte (Narrator), Kate Forbes (Narrator). Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Neither provides any documentation: http://pub122.ezboard.com/fwordoriginsorgfrm2.showMessage?topicID=191.topic, http://members.aol.com/MorelandC/HaveOriginsData.htm#LordWillingAndTheCreek. !, Reckon has ancestry tracing all the way back to the 1000s (and maybe older still), and originally means to count, calculate.. Anything to the degree of "all get out" is something to talk about. 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. "We plan to be there," we might say, and then add on a quick, "Lord willing and the creek don't rise." It's another way of saying, "I am dead serious about keeping my word on this, short of a hurricane or earthquake." In other words, I'm doggedly committed to this unless the devil stops me. Many thanks to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for the ARC in return for an unbiased review. A friend of mine told me to shoot first and ask questions later. "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." 24 of 30. "Like all great southern. 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. Page created 25 Feb. 2012, Problems viewing this page? If you've just had a big Southern lunch, complete with cornbread, collard greens, and pecan pie, you're definitely full as a tick. Creek don't rise - phrase meaning and origin - Phrasefinder It was a big old chunk of a book, so only a couple of the kids including myself read it. The 1800s and 1900s were much simpler times, as people didn't have the luxuries afforded in modern times. If the Creek Don't Rise is a collection of hard-used characters, tangled relationships, family angst, and fortitude. A young woman goes missing and has the town both fearful and wondering. We didnt. Not one shred of evidence is a clear invitation to fault the writer. 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. Dont worry, if youre helping a friend make groceries, youre not expected to create food from scratch. This book reminds me of that. 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. A: "Do you reckon we'll have enough from this harvest to make ends meet?" B: "God willing and the creek don't rise." You will have spotted that neither of these capitalises creek, which suggests they didnt have the Creek people in mind. If you find only minnows, though, they look even smaller compared to the heavy catch you hoped for. It can be summarised as "if all goes well". It can be deployed sincerely, but if you're hearing "bless your heart" in the South, it probably has an edge to it. Kicked in the gut and sucker punched with one of the best books I have ever read. However, if you're from the South, you know that sometimes there's just no other way to get your point across. PS A belated congratulations on your appointment as moderator, Tom. Get help and learn more about the design. Eventually, you became a singular pronoun, and we lost the plural pronouns. Now, she admits to saying this to her children. If so, you know that being madder than a wet hen is very mad indeed. If the Good Lord's Willing and the Creek Don't Rise - Wikipedia Whether you're talking about volume or value, a hill of beans isn't worth much. Note that the Creek Nation(s) did not "rise" at all. It is sometimes thought that the word "Creek" instead refers to the Creek Indians, but this is unlikely. The creek don't rise - Wikipedia Youll thank us later! Its a more conditional statement of intent than come hell or high water. Soda web site devoted to this age-old debate. The tale is widely reproduced and believed nevertheless. Devil's beating his wife (when it would be sunny and raining). The grit and darkness don't just belong to Sadie, though. Then theres a long gap in the record before it began to appear again in the 1950s. 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). The catchphrase itself was associated with Hank Williams. origin of phrase - "if the creek don't rise" - Factual Questions Chief Rose is asking drivers to be cautious while out and about. What Grandma says when you pull in the driveway, pop out of the car, and come running. There's two or three creeks," he said. 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. I was going to ask him why, but I had to shoot him. 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. 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. In response to a request that he return to Washington D.C., he wrote, "God willing and the Creek don't rise." And, good Lord willing and the creek don't rise, come March of next year, I'll be 225 years old. 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. This page was last edited on 17 January 2023, at 01:18. Cookies and privacy 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. Well, I found it. 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! Andrew Jackson sent a request for reinforcements before the Battle Of New Orleans. That book was a 1908 publication and leans toward the thought of Creek Indian, even if not capitalized, because of the word fire (as in shooting guns). Rather, when this phrase is used, we'd like you to mind your manners and stop acting inappropriately. Learn how your comment data is processed. And, when the doins been done, the feller done did it. Following that treaty John Siever formed the state of Franklin from land previously claimed by North Carolina but never ceded by the Indian tribes. by Leah Weiss. If The Creek Don't Rise You might say cocola. Marty Stuart places the words "If the Good Lord's willin' and the creek don't rise, we'll see you in the mornin'." Instead of "Well, I swear," Southerners have adopted a geographically inspired alternative. 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. It has been noted that the phrase should be correctly written as God willing and the Creek dont rise. 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. 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. 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. It's a vivid phrase, and it's an accurate one too. When you're exhausted in an I'm-so-beat-I-can't-go-on kind of way, you're definitely worn slap out. While this phrase may sound made up, it's simply our multisyllabic manner of saying something is askew. 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. It mentions . Its worth looking into because of the way in which it has been elaborated in the version you quote.. 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. 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. Feller-citizens Im not customed to public speakin before sich highfalutin audiences. Runnin around like a chicken with it's head . And that is the highest praise from me. Who better to write about the risks of the Creek rising in revolt? I've never forgotten it and it's drove me nuts because I would love a copy of it. 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. 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. I reckon "I reckon" can replace any number of phrases, such as: I guess, I suppose, I think, and I imagine. And of course, there's nothing prettier than a warm summer day picking peaches in the sunshine. "Well I s'wanee" evokes the Southern Suwannee River. While in the south, Hawkins was requested by the President of the U.S. to return to Washington. 133 Copy quote. The proper phrase is Lord willing and the Creek don't rise. It's a more conditional statement of intent than come hell or high water. He was a politician and Indian agent. Someone kicked in with we say cricks. The tale is widely reproduced and believed nevertheless. Ireckon is the way many Southerners get to surmising about something or other. 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' Traces Webs Of Hurt And Help : NPR 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. Here are a couple of examples of this claim. 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. Southerners tell it like it isno matter what it isso think of this as a learning moment. 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. In fact, virtually all the examples that Ive found in books and newspaper archives down to the present day are in lower-case. You Cant Use These English Words In The UK, Understanding Black History: 10 Terms That Illuminate The Black Experience In The US. But I know of just four instances from that century. "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. 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.".