Marty Stuart places the words "If the Good Lord's willin' and the creek don't rise, we'll see you in the mornin'." And yes, I have heard the music of this culture and watched the dancing. And I mean took me there! If the Good Lord's Willing and the Creek Don't Rise - Wikipedia 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? 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. What is the origin of the phrase the good Lord willing and the creek dont rise? Because he capitalized Creek its asserted that he was referring to the Creek Indian tribe and not a body of water. 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. When the road looks rough ahead, remember the 'Man upstairs'. Cookies and privacy 132 Copy quote. Unarguable Southern criticism. The lyrics play on the expression Lord willing and the creek don't rise, which is thought to originate from Alabama. It seems this saying is a favorite expression of country singers. Its not a recent change. 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! Affixes dictionary. "If the Good Lord's Willing and the Creek Don't Rise" was later covered by Johnny Cash during his tenure at Sun, and a few of the other tracks here ", If God Is Willing and da Creek Don't Rise, "If the Good Lord's Willing and the Creek Don't Rise", Learn how and when to remove this template message, "World Wide Words: God willing and the creek don't rise", "William Clark Green: 'Ringling Road' Album Review", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=If_the_Good_Lord%27s_Willing_and_the_Creek_Don%27t_Rise&oldid=1067282742, "If The Lord's Willing And The Creeks Don't Rise", song by, "If The Good Lord's Willing And The Creek Don't Rise", Lattie Moore, Jerry Reed 1961, "If The Good Lord's Willing", Ray Godfrey, arranged Jerry Reed, Tollie Records 1964, "(Be The Good Lord Willing) The Creek Don't Rise", Jivin' Gene, arranged Smith, Hall-Way Records 1964, "God Willin' & the Creek Don't Rise", with the lyric "God willin' an the creek don't rise, I'll be home again before this time next year." Though youre likely to hear Southernisms such as. DeSantis's year-long quest to strip Disney of its self-rule came after the entertainment giant, and Florida's . The catchphrase itself was associated with Hank Williams. The New Madrid earthquake (reputedly the largest in recorded history in North America) created the division between traditionalist Creek (Red Sticks) and those more willing to seek accommodation with the majority of the tribe. The 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. It can be deployed sincerely, but if you're hearing "bless your heart" in the South, it probably has an edge to it. (LogOut/ God willing and the creek don't rise - TheFreeDictionary.com The creek don't rise - Wikipedia Apparently Carter had a great many pills, because the phrase found its way into the Southern vocabulary. 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. But in following verses the rhyme changes through "creeks don't rise", "creek stay low", back to "creeks don't rise". If The Creek Don't Rise. Some newspaper clippings are harder to determine which meaning they meant. New words appear; old ones fall out of use or alter their meanings. It is a breathtaking and gritty portrayal of hillbilly life from the year 1970 which is set in the Appalachian Mountains. And, when the doins been done, the feller done did it. 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. 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. What Do Shrove Tuesday, Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday, And Lent Mean? Doh! 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. 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. Someone kicked in with we say cricks. 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. It's almost always accompanied by a good-natured, perhaps slightly exasperated, shake of the head. The tale is widely reproduced and believed nevertheless. He was a politician and Indian agent. 133 Copy quote. I'm a sucker for the well turned phrase and I was highlighting sentences here, one after another. The tale is widely reproduced and believed nevertheless. https://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=Lord_willing_and_the_creek_don%27t_rise&oldid=70955250. 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. Your email address will not be published. Many thanks to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for the ARC in return for an unbiased review. Throughout the years, through these floods, weve had several roads that have washed completely out, so you just dont know whats down there.. Who better to write about the risks of the Creek rising in revolt? All the ones I know from growin up : r/ShitSouthernersSay 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 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. What's The Difference Between Y'all And Ya'll? Nor is grammar an argument in favor the the subject being plural. And of course, there's nothing prettier than a warm summer day picking peaches in the sunshine. "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]. Its worth looking into because of the way in which it has been elaborated in the version you quote. 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. (the good) Lord willing and the creek don't rise - TheFreeDictionary.com If the Creek Don't Rise: Tales From the South Kindle Edition Whether you're talking about volume or value, a hill of beans isn't worth much. The Lafayette gazette (Louisiana), 3 Nov. 1894. 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. She's seventeen, pregnant and two weeks into her marriage to Roy Tupkin, after enduring brutal beatings, Sadie knows she has made a mistake. Get help and learn more about the design. While this phrase may sound made up, it's simply our multisyllabic manner of saying something is askew. Origin debaters point to Col. Benjamin Hawkins of North Carolina, a Continental Congress senator. 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. Copyright 2023 KAIT. 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. God Willing and the Creek Don't Rise - Southern Love 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. Rather, when this phrase is used, we'd like you to mind your manners and stop acting inappropriately. But I know of just four instances from that century. A handful of rivers and streams will be out of their banks by Friday evening and Saturday morning. However, this is clearly one of those evolving language cases. So the saying came about like we'll be there.God willing and the Creek (indians) don't rise..to stop us. I was going to ask him why, but I had to shoot him. 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 tale is widely reproduced and believed nevertheless. The underscore of that sentiment would be that he married his common-law wife on his deathbed and she was of the Creek Indians. Threats not only from abroad, but internally as well, forced the fledgling nation to negotiate treaties with the tribes on the western frontier. by Leah Weiss. God willing and the creek don't rise - World Wide Words "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. A rising creek could spell trouble, as it can lead to flooding and other issues. If you're trying to be nice, but you just can't quite let it go, "bless your heart" is a go-to. Poor little doggy. Page created 25 Feb. 2012, Problems viewing this page? All of my life there have been local mountain sayings that I've heard and of course repeated, complete with a North Carolina southern drawl as literal fact. 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. What Grandma says when you pull in the driveway, pop out of the car, and come running. It mentions Benjamin Hawkins of the late 18th century, who was asked by the US president to go back to Washington. You dont know whats underneath that water, Rose said. This string of double negatives is actually meant as encouragement! 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. Where did this contraction, popular in both African American English and Southern American English, come from? An exclamationof surprise, anger, happiness, really any emotionthat is appropriate in nearly every Southern scenario. Someone once said that when you visit the South, you need a translator. 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.. 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. 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. It's a more conditional statement of intent than come hell or high water. 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. God willing and the creek don't rise If all goes as it should; if everything goes well. If The Creek Don't Rise 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 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. And that is the highest praise from me. (I would not be surprised to discover that the last contributor on your first link is none other than our own samclem.). You may still hear it if you stop into a country store. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. There's two or three creeks," he said. Quick, what do you call a soft drink? The doin hasnt been done yet. Southern Slang: If The Creek Don't Rise | What does it mean? | Ask A (the good) Lord willing and the creek don't rise rural If all goes as it should; if everything goes well. The Problem with Saying, "Lord Willing and the Creek Don't Rise" Donate via PayPal. Every researcher who has investigated the expression has dismissed an Indian connection as untrue. It may take the form of real or mock dialect, in variations like " Lor' willin' an' th' crick don' rise.". In his experience, it doesnt take much for local creeks and streams to cause trouble. When you're in the South, "over yonder" is a distant directionany direction. Feller-citizens Im not customed to public speakin before sich highfalutin audiences. Neither provides any documentation: http://pub122.ezboard.com/fwordoriginsorgfrm2.showMessage?topicID=191.topic, http://members.aol.com/MorelandC/HaveOriginsData.htm#LordWillingAndTheCreek. Marty Stuart places the words "If the Good Lord's willin' and the creek don't rise, we'll see you in the mornin'." It can be summarised as if all goes well. Its especially difficult for people that live south of River Road and some of them that live in Woodland Hills. God Willing and the Creek Don't Rise | Native Heritage Project If youre not using this phrase what are you waiting for? It is a physical and mental state a few degrees past weary and just this side of dog-tired. When you're exhausted in an I'm-so-beat-I-can't-go-on kind of way, you're definitely worn slap out. And I have used this page's title often-feeling quite sure I knew exactly what it meant. 'Cause everything's fine, God, I wish it were . Ain't got no dog in that race. This string of double negatives is actually meant as encouragement! The "creek don't rise" phrase is now sometimes credited to this time of unrest and displacement. Positive thinking, Southern style. It seems this saying is a favorite expression of country singers. Do You Know These Sizzlin' Southern Sayings? - Dictionary.com !, Reckon has ancestry tracing all the way back to the 1000s (and maybe older still), and originally means to count, calculate.. This page was last edited on 17 January 2023, at 01:18. If so, you know that being madder than a wet hen is very mad indeed. In fact, Georgia and South Carolina produce more peaches than any other states in the South. If the Creek Don't Rise is a collection of hard-used characters, tangled relationships, family angst, and fortitude. If the Good Lord is Willing and the Creek don't rise If we relied on written sources it would be hard to believe in such continued use. 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.". We didnt. And yes, they roll their eyes, too. 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. No matter where you go in Kentucky, the people often have some colorful expressions. 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. 15 Kentucky Sayings Other People Wouldn't Understand - OnlyInYourState Learn how your comment data is processed. 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. The word you use for a fizzy, carbonated drink reveals a lot more about you than you know. If The Creek Don't Rise is a unique novel whose structure feels light and breezy and veers drastically from the standard formula found in fiction. When you've met the girl of your dreams, chances are she is "pretty as a peach." My officers and fire department, we went along the river houses and notified everybody and recommended evacuation, said Hardy Police Chief Scott Rose. 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. A young woman goes missing and has the town both fearful and wondering. 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. It was a big old chunk of a book, so only a couple of the kids including myself read it. John Wayne. Catawampus(or, cattywampus) may have been popularized by Brits who delighted in parodying Southern vernacular. The 1800s and 1900s were much simpler times, as people didn't have the luxuries afforded in modern times. While there, we happened upon a museum dedicated to the Underground Railroad. Select your currency from the list and click Donate. All rights reserved.This page URL: http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-god1.htmLast modified: 25 February 2012. No bigger than a minnow in a fishing pond is as tiny as can be. This means that if everything continues to plan, things will be okay. Thats exactly who I was hoping would reply to my question. And, good Lord willing and the creek don't rise, come March of next year, I'll be 225 years old. 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.. If the Creek Don't Rise by Leah Weiss (Author), Tom Stechschulte (Narrator), Kate Forbes (Narrator). Phrase [ edit] Lord willing and the creek don't rise ( idiomatic, US, informal) Barring unforeseen circumstances. Here are a couple of examples of this claim. Come visit me at LeahWeiss.com where you can subscribe to my CREEKRISE author news. Cant never could is a reminder that if you dont even try, you wont ever accomplish your goal. As I was in a museum, I felt confident in repeating the knowledge to others as fact. 1851. This was a Traveling Sister Read with Brenda, Sarah, Jennifer and Porshajo. Share. Note that the Creek Nation(s) did not "rise" at all. You will have spotted that neither of these capitalises creek, which suggests they didnt have the Creek people in mind. 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.". As they returned home, some of them also killed some settlers in the Ohio valley. 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. Depending on where you are, youre likely to hear words combined together (gonna for going to) and different vowel sounds than youre used to, including mah for my and git for get.Git has been in use since the 16th century all over the country, but is particularly common in the South, where it appears in everything from classic literature (The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, To Kill a Mockingbird) to personal correspondence (I want you to write me as soon as you git this letter, from a letter dating back to the Civil War). This article about the English language is a stub. "The Good Lord willing and the 'creek' don't rise" is just one of them. Learn how your comment data is processed. On his deathbed he married the Creek woman who had been his common-law wife. Copyright Michael Quinion, 1996. Because that is supposedly how the original author first wrote it. origin of phrase - "if the creek don't rise" - Factual Questions 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. 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. 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. Grahams American Monthly Magazine, Jun. This was an extremely enjoyable read! Sentences With "Lord willing and the creek don't rise" | Random I ate that up with a spoon and did my best to read them all. Talk:Lord willing and the creek don't rise - Wiktionary And really, wouldn't we all druther have our druthers? 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).. Every researcher who has investigated the expression has dismissed an Indian connection as untrue. "He broke bout every piece of sweet in you. As was the case with Dr Mattox, the remark is routinely attributed to first being said by Benjamin Hawkins. Good Lord willing and the creek don't rise - phrase meaning and origin Over yonder down the road. [3] The capitalization of the word Creek supposedly referred to the Creek Indian tribe rather than a body of water.[4][5]. This one originates from the 19th century, when Carter Products marketed "Little Liver Pills" across the country. If you refer to itno matter the brand or flavoras Coke, chances are you grew up in the South. 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 mentions . While in the south, Hawkins was requested by the President of the U.S. to return to Washington. "Well I s'wanee" evokes the Southern Suwannee River. Is this derivation correct? To understand Hawkins, I read a little further into his history. Lord willing and the creek don't rise, we'll have that new barn finished in time for the harvest. 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. Two years after the signing of the treaty, Benjamin Hawkins died at the site known as Old Agency. Not one shred of evidence is a clear invitation to fault the writer. Can't Never Could. Funny Phrases ben stanczyk 10/25/01 The written record dates the saying from about the middle of the nineteenth century. Lord willing and the creek don't rise - Wiktionary This United Statesrelated article is a stub. There is a lot of controversy about this fairly common folk saying. 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.

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