if the creek don't rise saying

I've never forgotten it and it's drove me nuts because I would love a copy of it. Whether you're talking about volume or value, a hill of beans isn't worth much. Do You Know These Sizzlin' Southern Sayings? - Dictionary.com History: God Willing And The Creek Dont Rise Apparently Carter had a great many pills, because the phrase found its way into the Southern vocabulary. Here are a couple of examples of this claim. According to World Wide Words, when asked if it meant Creek Indians, their expert responded with: Quite certainly not. Faire can mean both do and make. This phrase entered the Southern vernacular via Louisiana and is in regular use in the New Orleans area. I was just hoping for something more concrete about the real origin. The clipping below from 1892 is a reference to flooding waterways not allowing the postmaster to get to his office. [3] The capitalization of the word Creek supposedly referred to the Creek Indian tribe rather than a body of water.[4][5]. Sign up for writing inspiration in your email, , Scarlett OHara says: I do declare, Frank Kennedy, if you dont look dashing with that new set of whiskers!, The distinct English dialect of the American South, which has a close relationship with Black English (African American Vernacular English), is fascinatingand plenty lively. Someone once said that when you visit the South, you need a translator. The only requirement is that you declare it loud and proud. 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. The proper phrase is Lord willing and the Creek don't rise. "If the Creek Don't Rise" We'll be there unless something out of our control stops us. 'Cause everything's fine, God, I wish it were . 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. When you're in the South, "over yonder" is a distant directionany direction. 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. Phrase [ edit] Lord willing and the creek don't rise ( idiomatic, US, informal) Barring unforeseen circumstances. 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. 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. (LogOut/ As they returned home, some of them also killed some settlers in the Ohio valley. "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. 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 History And Traditions That Make Hanukkah Light Up, Examples Of Ableist Language You May Not Realize Youre Using, Winter 2023 New Words: Everything, Everywhere, All At Once, Fall In Love With 14 Captivating Valentines Day Words, Rizz And 7 Other Slang Trends That Explain The Internet In 2023, Win With Qi And This List Of Our Best Scrabble Words, We Had ChatGPT Coin Nonsense PhrasesAnd Then We Defined Them, Surprise! What is the origin of the phrase the good Lord willing and the creek dont rise? The tale is widely reproduced and believed nevertheless. That means whatever you're talking about is worth less than very little. Turn around, and please dont drive through it. 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. The lyrics play on the expression Lord willing and the creek don't rise, which is thought to originate from Alabama. 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. As was the case with Dr Mattox, the remark is routinely attributed to first being said by Benjamin Hawkins. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. I see said the blind man to his deaf wife. Learn how your comment data is processed. You might say cocola. DeSantis's year-long quest to strip Disney of its self-rule came after the entertainment giant, and Florida's . A Quite certainly not. [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. When you're fixin' to do something, it's going to happen, but you also may decide to take your sweet time. Charles Wilson said the flood waters are something he has to live with to enjoy residing on the river. Maybe not all dogs were made for hunting some prefer the warmth of a fireplace and the comfort of your lap. Rather, when this phrase is used, we'd like you to mind your manners and stop acting inappropriately. 15 Kentucky Sayings Other People Wouldn't Understand - OnlyInYourState I reckon "I reckon" can replace any number of phrases, such as: I guess, I suppose, I think, and I imagine. And yes, I have heard the music of this culture and watched the dancing. All the ones I know from growin up : r/ShitSouthernersSay 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. The dialect is obscure and living conditions primitive with a feel more like the 1870's than the 1970's..so backward..so uncivilized..the men so brutal and lawless, and for Sadie Blue, life seems grave. (I would not be surprised to discover that the last contributor on your first link is none other than our own samclem.). If you've just had a big Southern lunch, complete with cornbread, collard greens, and pecan pie, you're definitely full as a tick. Grahams American Monthly Magazine, Jun. 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. Come visit me at LeahWeiss.com where you can subscribe to my CREEKRISE author news. In Gone With the Wind, Scarlett OHara says: I do declare, Frank Kennedy, if you dont look dashing with that new set of whiskers!. 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. 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. It happens often during a Southern summer, when the heat rises and the temperatures shoot past 100. 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. The grit and darkness don't just belong to Sadie, though. "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]. In his reply, he was said to have written, God willing and the Creek dont rise. It turns out that the phrase was written by Benjamin Hawkins in the late 18th century. 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. Oh, how I loved this story - I simply didnt want it to end! 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.". I ate that up with a spoon and did my best to read them all. 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. "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 means that if everything continues to plan, things will be okay. If the Creek Dont Rise by Leah Weiss is a 2017 Sourcebooks Landmark publication. Andrew Jackson sent a request for reinforcements before the Battle Of New Orleans. 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. 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). 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 General replied to Stonewall Jackson that he would send troops "the Good Lord is willing and the Creeks don't rise (in rebellion). Curiously, this word might have roots in offbeat British humor from the 1840s. Over yonder down the road. Because that is supposedly how the original author first wrote it. (Recall, also, that the Creek who did go to war against the whites were a smaller group within the Creek nation and that the larger group remained neutral or actively assisted the whites in the warat which point they were betrayed by having the U.S. sieze all their land.). "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." Chief Rose is asking drivers to be cautious while out and about. And even if it did, the initial capital letter would mean nothing, as at the time it was still common practice to capitalise all nouns. What Grandma says when you pull in the driveway, pop out of the car, and come running. Statements of the form "God/Lord willing and (some other condition being met)" are ancient extensions of simple acceptance of God's will in phrases like God willing and Lord willing. "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 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. Settle in, because whatever we're talking about is going to take all day. The Problem with Saying, "Lord Willing and the Creek Don't Rise" Just wait till you see what Granny Gladys does..with a bit of help from Mother Nature..hehehe. 'Creek don't rise' is a phrase with possibly more than one meaning According to World Wide Words, when asked if it meant Creek Indians, their expert responded with: " Quite certainly not. If the Creek rose, Hawkins would have to be present to quell the rebellion. writes one commentator.. Its not a recent change. This is a high compliment in the South, since Southern states are known for their peaches. It's often said in a reassuring way, to calm people down and encourage them to keep on trying. The written record dates the saying from about the middle of the nineteenth century. Tensions between settlers and both tribes had been rising following the Treaty of Augusta and the land cessions of 1782-1783. You gonna do nothing?". 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. Dylan LeBlanc - If The Creek Don't Rise Lyrics | Genius Lyrics Theres two or three creeks, he said. The saying "God willing and the Creek don't rise." Came from those traveling west in the OLD DAYS. When I was growing up, this was something we said all of the time. Good Lord willing and the creek don't rise - phrase meaning and origin Change). Its typically used to describe a situation thats gone askew, awry, or out of alignment. "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." 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. Grahams American Monthly Magazine, Jun. Look up Lord willing and the creek don't rise in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. All rights reserved. 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. The exact tranlation might be, 'If God is willing, and there isn't a flood that would prevent us from meeting again next week'. In other words, Ill make it to Grandmas if the indians dont go on the warpath. The word you use for a fizzy, carbonated drink reveals a lot more about you than you know. There, we listened to amazing stories told by Dr. John Mattox. Doh! If the Creek Don't Rise by Leah Weiss | Goodreads If you hear this one, it's best to slow down. purchase. 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. When the road looks rough ahead, remember the 'Man upstairs'. And really, wouldn't we all druther have our druthers? God Willing and the Creek Don't Rise | Native Heritage Project The tale is widely reproduced and believed nevertheless. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. It can be summarised as if all goes well. Other words sites IF THE CREEK DON'T RISE is character driven and one fine gritty and entertaining debut with one fine satisfying ending! He told us about a young man who had been in the museum some weeks previous. This book reminds me of that. You will have spotted that neither of these capitalises creek, which suggests they didnt have the Creek people in mind. Some say farmers used to dunk their hens when they got broody. 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. Learn how your comment data is processed. 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.. Over yonder toward the water tower. 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. 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. 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 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. Ain't got no dog in that race. I grew up with that saying and Ive said it more times than I can count. 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 It completely nailed the "mountain living" that I remembered my grandmother talking about. Firsts, Mines, Asks. Donate via PayPal. The Lafayette gazette(Louisiana), 3 Nov. 1894. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. (LogOut/ He was a politician and Indian agent. If youre not using this phrase what are you waiting for? 30 Phrases Only Southerners Use 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. Your email address will not be published. Youll thank us later! Someone kicked in with we say cricks. While this phrase may sound made up, it's simply our multisyllabic manner of saying something is askew. 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. the creek don't 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. To cover your bases you might say, "I'll see you then if the creek don't rise." Some say it originated with the Scottish-Irish term ye aw. Farmers know that if you do something 'til the cows come home, it's going to take all day. The researchers went on to cite two different publications in the 1800s in which the authors did not capitalize the word creek, leading one to believe they did not mean the people proper. Your first citation is much stronger than your second. Take a look at some of our favorite Southern sayings that we just couldn't live without. A true Southern tradition. 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. Then theres a long gap in the record before it began to appear again in the 1950s. It turns out that the phrase was written by Benjamin Hawkins in the late 18th century. An odd few (6% of Americans) do use soft drink, according to the Pop vs. Don't worry, though, everyone hears this every now and again. Is this derivation correct? But today Ive stumbled across the claim that it refers to an uprising by the Creek (or Cree) Indians. 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. I was going to ask him why, but I had to shoot him. 133 Copy quote. "Like all great southern writers, Leah Weiss's magic turns the local into the universal." Wiley Cash, New York Times bestselling author, on All The Little Hopes. Soda web site devoted to this age-old debate. Historians and etymologists may cringe, but the modern usage of Lord willin and the creek (or crick) dont rise is about the stream, not the Creek tribe. "If the good Lord's willing and the creek don't rise.". Share. 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. Southerners adopted this phrase wholeheartedly from its early usages in 1700s England and Scotland (where it meant "common sense"). Let me love you again, give me one more try. 40 OLD PHRASES AND SAYINGS - Grammy's Grid If the Creek Don't Rise: A Novel - Leah Weiss - Google Books She captures the whole Appalachian scene - the vocabulary, the falling down houses, the likker, the poverty. 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. Pot callin the kettle black. However, the first President to move to Washington was John Adams on 1 November 1800. Youre still going to the grocery store. Devil's beating his wife (when it would be sunny and raining). 15. 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. 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. Well, hells bells. When you've met the girl of your dreams, chances are she is "pretty as a peach." Take a look here Michael: http://www.genealogynation.com/creek/. It may take the form of real or mock dialect, in variations like " Lor' willin' an' th' crick don' rise.". Yelling out this humorous backronym for sh*tmight just tame the anger a bit. 132 Copy quote. Leah Weiss introduces her extraordinary characters as chapters unfold and each one has their own peculiarity. Anything to the degree of "all get out" is something to talk about. Southerners tell it like it isno matter what it isso think of this as a learning moment. What Do Shrove Tuesday, Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday, And Lent Mean? When you're exhausted in an I'm-so-beat-I-can't-go-on kind of way, you're definitely worn slap out. If the Creek Don't Rise Quotes by Leah Weiss - Goodreads document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. In the South, a hill of beans is its own measuring stick. Cant never could is a reminder that if you dont even try, you wont ever accomplish your goal. God Willing and the Creek Don't Rise - Southern Love 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.. 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. 4.5 stars! from The New York Times: If there is a good state of the world in 2021 the Lord willing and the creek don't rise everyone and all Blue Dogs in office needs to recognize . As they returned home, some of them also killed some settlers in the Ohio valley. You can help Wikipedia by expanding 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. New words appear; old ones fall out of use or alter their meanings. Do You Know These Sizzlin Southern Sayings. I will be at church on Sunday. Marty Stuart places the words "If the Good Lord's willin' and the creek don't rise, we'll see you in the mornin'." Gumption is spirit, courage, spunk, boldness, and initiative. I am feeling culture shock from reading this book. It's almost always accompanied by a good-natured, perhaps slightly exasperated, shake of the head. And of course, there's nothing prettier than a warm summer day picking peaches in the sunshine. If you refer to itno matter the brand or flavoras Coke, chances are you grew up in the South. Creek don't rise - phrase meaning and origin - Phrasefinder 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. It's a more conditional statement of intent than come hell or high water. 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. Many thanks to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for the ARC in return for an unbiased review. 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. But in following verses the rhyme changes through "creeks don't rise", "creek stay low", back to "creeks don't rise". Eventually, you became a singular pronoun, and we lost the plural pronouns. Over yonder past the cotton field. And, when the doins been done, the feller done did it. And yes, they roll their eyes, too. And yes, they roll their eyes, too. Instead of "Well, I swear," Southerners have adopted a geographically inspired alternative. Cows aren't known for their speed, and they are usually out and about, wandering until feeding time. I have even heard the accents and many of the stories from various artists who escaped the confines of this culture and were successful in attaining fame and fortune for themselves. If the good Lord's willin and the creek don't rise. The states involved sent Hawkins,Andrew Pickens(South Carolina), Joseph Martin (Georgia) andLachlan McIntosh(Continental representative, Georgia) to negotiate a treaty to end the fighting. Southern Slang: If The Creek Don't Rise | What does it mean? | Ask A There is no typical Southern accent. Well, I found it. Accents vary by regionand sometimes even city to city. A rising creek could spell trouble, as it can lead to flooding and other issues. But we declareif your only knowledge of Southern sayings comes fromGone With the Wind, youre missing out on a lot of Southern expressions. Someone reminded me not to be reminded of you. God willing and the creek don't rise - TheFreeDictionary.com Lord willing and the creek don't rise - Wiktionary Does a bear shit in the woods? 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. A: "Do you reckon we'll have enough from this harvest to make ends meet?" Select your currency from the list and click Donate. While in the south, Hawkins was requested by the President of the U.S. to return to Washington. If so, you know that being madder than a wet hen is very mad indeed. Georgia-born blogger Jennifer Collins says she always rolled her eyes when her mom said this to her. The approximately 20,000 Creek Indians that still exist reside in Oklahoma. Lord willing and the creek don't rise, we'll have that new barn finished in time for the harvest. Now, she admits to saying this to her children. 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. Copy furnished by Net Galley for the price of a review. Used in a sentence - If the creek don't rise and God's willing, you should be able to see this video. On his deathbed he married the Creek woman who had been his common-law wife. 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.

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