We've had a lot of delays, but Lord willing and the creek don't rise, we should have the house finished before winter. You dont know whats underneath that water, Rose said. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. If the Creek rose, Hawkins would have to be present to quell the rebellion. writes one commentator.. If you're trying to be nice, but you just can't quite let it go, "bless your heart" is a go-to. This phrase isn't about physical appearance. As they returned home, some of them also killed some settlers in the Ohio valley. 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. 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. And that is the highest praise from me. When you've met the girl of your dreams, chances are she is "pretty as a peach." Can't Never Could. Dont worry, if youre helping a friend make groceries, youre not expected to create food from scratch. 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. 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. HARDY, Ark. 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. Who better to write about the risks of the Creek rising in revolt? Page created 25 Feb. 2012, Problems viewing this page? And, good Lord willing and the creek don't rise, come March of next year, I'll be 225 years old. The tale is widely reproduced and believed nevertheless. Phrase [ edit] Lord willing and the creek don't rise ( idiomatic, US, informal) Barring unforeseen circumstances. 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. Siever, known as Nolichucky Jack to his friends, was as brutal to the Cherokee and Creek as they were to him, but Siever knew to frame his attacks as responses to incursion or wrongs. "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]. Signed in November, 1785, A Treaty With the Cherokee (the technical name of the Treaty of Hopewell) created the first rift between theCherokee Nationand the Chickamauga Cherokee that would not end until the Chickamauga went West following the Revolt of the Young Chiefs. 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 the Creek Don't Rise Quotes Showing 1-14 of 14 "Times like these I wonder if I ever been happy. The request was to a general that had troops near Horseshoe Bend Alabama, protecting settlers against a Creek Indian uprising. Translated, it means, "He sure does think a lot of himself." Your email address will not be published. Your email address will not be published. He was a politician and Indian agent. You gonna let him break your spirit, too? What Grandma says when you pull in the driveway, pop out of the car, and come running. I ate that up with a spoon and did my best to read them all. 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. Unarguable Southern criticism. Turn around, and please dont drive through it. I'm a sucker for the well turned phrase and I was highlighting sentences here, one after another. Charles Wilson said the flood waters are something he has to live with to enjoy residing on the river. Donate via PayPal. Kicked in the gut and sucker punched with one of the best books I have ever read. John Wayne. Your first citation is much stronger than your second. Theres probably a connection between eternal damnation and tarnation. Wow! And yes, they roll their eyes, too. Chief Rose is asking drivers to be cautious while out and about. 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 The distinct English dialect of the American South, which has a close relationship with Black English (African American Vernacular English), is fascinatingand plenty lively. To understand Hawkins, I read a little further into his history. 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. Curiously, this word might have roots in offbeat British humor from the 1840s. And yes, I have heard the music of this culture and watched the dancing. 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. Every researcher who has investigated the expression has dismissed an Indian connection as untrue. Quick, what do you call a soft drink? Not one shred of evidence is a clear invitation to fault the writer. "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." Youll thank us later! Some newspaper clippings are harder to determine which meaning they meant. Every researcher who has investigated the expression has dismissed an Indian connection as untrue. 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 the 1900s, the word evolved, taking on a Southern spin as well as new meanings such as "courage" and "get-up-and-go.". If you use this phrase, you could be declaring any number of things: surprise, dissent, happiness. 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. 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. From the start there's been a film of dingy on my days.. 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. (KAIT) - Its been a busy 24 hours for first responders in Sharp County. Synonyms [ edit] (barring unforeseen circumstances): God willing, Lord willing Translations [ edit] show phrase References [ edit] 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. Here is an article that casts rather a lot of doubt on your assertion: 'God willing and the creek don't rise' M Quinion_World Wide Words: Q From Bob Scala: An item that has been floating around the internet claims that the expression 'God willing and the creek don't rise' referred to the Creek Indians, not a body of water. It can be summarised as if all goes well. It is a quintessential Southern phrase, said by friends and family on porches and in rocking chairs all across the South. 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. It is sometimes thought that the word "Creek" instead refers to the Creek Indians, but this is unlikely. Grandma might whisper this one over her hymnal if she sees you cutting up in church on Sunday morning. If you refer to itno matter the brand or flavoras Coke, chances are you grew up in the 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 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 Creek Don't Rise. Weiss has spun me upside down in this backward county in the Appalachian mountains and made a southerner out of me. An exclamationof surprise, anger, happiness, really any emotionthat is appropriate in nearly every Southern scenario. Does a bear shit in the woods? 15. Marty Stuart places the words "If the Good Lord's willin' and the creek don't rise, we'll see you in the mornin'." Marty Stuart places the words "If the Good Lord's willin' and the creek don't rise, we'll see you in the mornin'." You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. 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. DeSantis ends Disney's free reign over Florida's "Don't Say Gay" bill. Lord willing and the creek don't rise, we'll have that new barn finished in time for the harvest. When the U.S. demanded that the murderers be handed over for punishment, the Creek executed them themselves (for the Ohio murders, not for the River Raisin battle and aftermath). Gumption is spirit, courage, spunk, boldness, and initiative. 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. Take a look at some of our favorite Southern sayings that we just couldn't live without. It can be deployed sincerely, but if you're hearing "bless your heart" in the South, it probably has an edge to it. But did he really say the words quoted or was a phrase morphed to include him as the author? 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. Its worth looking into because of the way in which it has been elaborated in the version you quote.. It seems this saying is a favorite expression of country singers. Maybe not all dogs were made for hunting some prefer the warmth of a fireplace and the comfort of your lap. You might say cocola. When you're fixin' to do something, it's going to happen, but you also may decide to take your sweet time. You Cant Use These English Words In The UK, Understanding Black History: 10 Terms That Illuminate The Black Experience In The US. 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. If you think you can't, you won't be able to accomplish something, but if you think you can, you'll succeed. 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. by Leah Weiss. 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. The 1800s and 1900s were much simpler times, as people didn't have the luxuries afforded in modern times. Youd be in a real fix then. You may still hear it if you stop into a country store. 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! (Im terrible about reading usernames as I scan threads, and I completely missed who had contributed that comment.). 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. 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. 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 . If the Creek Don't Rise by Leah Weiss (Author), Tom Stechschulte (Narrator), Kate Forbes (Narrator). 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. and the word HOPE. [2] In the Reed song and Cash cover the verses vary the rhyme, so the opening line commences: If the good Lord's willing and the creek stays down I'll be in your arms time the moon come around. It mentions Benjamin Hawkins of the late 18th century, who was asked by the US president to go back to Washington. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Pot callin the kettle black. 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. The saying "God willing and the Creek don't rise." Came from those traveling west in the OLD DAYS. The expression make groceries is a translation of the French faire son march (to do ones market shopping). "Creek" originated as a reference to creeks flooding and preventing travel, but is sometimes re-interpreted as a reference to the Creek tribe. The Lafayette gazette(Louisiana), 3 Nov. 1894. 4.5 stars! 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.. 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. The catchphrase itself was associated with Hank Williams. 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. No, we don't mean you need to go fix your hair. An odd few (6% of Americans) do use soft drink, according to the Pop vs. This is a high compliment in the South, since Southern states are known for their peaches. (the good) Lord willing and the creek don't rise rural If all goes as it should; if everything goes well. Someone once said that when you visit the South, you need a translator. Now, she admits to saying this to her children. It turns out that the phrase was written by Benjamin Hawkins in the late 18th century. When a fellers fixin to do something, theyre about to do it. World Wide Words is copyright Michael Quinion, 1996. Cookies and privacy This article about the English language is a stub. Doh! Cows aren't known for their speed, and they are usually out and about, wandering until feeding time. 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. Im a longtime admirer of your calm demeanor and encyclopedic knowledge. Runnin around like a chicken with it's head . The tale is widely reproduced and believed nevertheless. The exact tranlation might be, 'If God is willing, and there isn't a flood that would prevent us from meeting again next week'. He told us about a young man who had been in the museum some weeks previous. The tale is widely reproduced and believed nevertheless. If you find only minnows, though, they look even smaller compared to the heavy catch you hoped for. In fact, virtually all the examples that Ive found in books and newspaper archives down to the present day are in lower-case. Yelling out this humorous backronym for sh*tmight just tame the anger a bit. In his reply, he was said to have written, God willing and the Creek dont rise. Whether you're talking about volume or value, a hill of beans isn't worth much. Its worth looking into because of the way in which it has been elaborated in the version you quote. "If the good Lord's willing and the creek don't rise.". According to World Wide Words, when asked if it meant Creek Indians, their expert responded with: Quite certainly not. Its a one-size-fits-all reply that can both express sympathy and insult someone, depending on the delivery. 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. 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. Have you ever seen a wet hen? Yes, I had heard of the Appalachians and how the culture spreads along those mountains over more than a dozen States. "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. Therefore if the Lord is willing and the Creek don't rise up and start up another uprising or battle, we will be able complete what ever it is we intend to do. 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. A rising creek could spell trouble, as it can lead to flooding and other issues. If so, you know that being madder than a wet hen is very mad indeed. If youre not using this phrase what are you waiting for? Note that the Creek Nation(s) did not "rise" at all. 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. Hang onto both and 'tough it out'. Oh, if the good Lord's willing and the creek don't rise. "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. This page was last edited on 17 January 2023, at 01:18. There is no reason to suppose the Indian variant is true. I reckon she skipped town on account of her mama being madder than a wet hen. Alongside fixin to, this is a quintessential term to strike a match under your vocab and hear it holler Yeehaw!! Instead of "Well, I swear," Southerners have adopted a geographically inspired alternative. Copy furnished by Net Galley for the price of a review. We admit that we've heard this Southernism more than once. A friend of mine told me to shoot first and ask questions later. There is a lot of controversy about this fairly common folk saying. 133 Copy quote. Following that treaty John Siever formed the state of Franklin from land previously claimed by North Carolina but never ceded by the Indian tribes. If the Creek Don't Rise. A very young, newly married pregnant woman, she vows her no good moonshining husband has beaten her for the last time. "Well I s'wanee" evokes the Southern Suwannee River. Positive thinking, Southern style. This phrase can be intensified by the addition of the word "way," as in "way over yonder.". Any of you word experts have solid information? You gonna do nothing?". A search for the word rise does not produce this phrase, so it appears that the body of water theory was correct after all. A sister who is afraid of losing her brother and Sadie's grandmother and aunt, all tell their stories adding to Sadie's own. God willing and the creek don't rise If all goes as it should; if everything goes well. False folk etymology. Many thanks to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for the ARC in return for an unbiased review. However, the first President to move to Washington was John Adams on 1 November 1800. Catawampus(or, cattywampus) may have been popularized by Brits who delighted in parodying Southern vernacular. I grew up with that saying and Ive said it more times than I can count. If we relied on written sources it would be hard to believe in such continued use. Let me love you again, give me one more try. There's two or three creeks," he said. (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.). What Do Shrove Tuesday, Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday, And Lent Mean? Well, at least we thought we did.but maybe not. 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!. (Or maybe the Piggly Wiggly, a Southern market chain that originated in Memphis, Tennessee). 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. The expression ". Maya Rodale is a best-selling romance author. 'Cause everything's fine, God, I wish it were . In other words, Ill make it to Grandmas if the indians dont go on the warpath. I was just hoping for something more concrete about the real origin. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Origin debaters point to Col. Benjamin Hawkins of North Carolina, a Continental Congress senator. 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! Someone kicked in with we say cricks. Im told it was a sign-off tag line of the 1930s US radio broadcaster Bradley Kincaid. 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. Apparently Carter had a great many pills, because the phrase found its way into the Southern vocabulary.
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