if the creek don't rise sayinghow did bryan cranston lose his fingers
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 second contributor on the AOL site is simply repeating things without any understanding. But did he really say the words quoted or was a phrase morphed to include him as the author? 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. He told us about a young man who had been in the museum some weeks previous. 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. "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." Neither provides any documentation: http://pub122.ezboard.com/fwordoriginsorgfrm2.showMessage?topicID=191.topic, http://members.aol.com/MorelandC/HaveOriginsData.htm#LordWillingAndTheCreek. I reckon "I reckon" can replace any number of phrases, such as: I guess, I suppose, I think, and I imagine. And, when the doins been done, the feller done did 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. Im a longtime admirer of your calm demeanor and encyclopedic knowledge. Stop right there! Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Other words sites Lately, though, I have learned to wince quickly and let it go. Like trying to meet a friend for lunch but having the car breakdown on the way. It's a vivid phrase, and it's an accurate one too. 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. Given that many small farm streams were crossed without bridges, which worked find most of the time, a swollen stream would cause problems. It is a quintessential Southern phrase, said by friends and family on porches and in rocking chairs all across the South. You'll also find a longer version of my official bio: It's bold, powerful, dark and hard to believe that this is a debut novel. I always took it as a reference to the level of water in a creek. The tale is widely reproduced and believed nevertheless. He would tell the audience that we would meet again, "If the good Lord's willin', and the creek don't rise". If you hear this one, you should probably pause a moment. Here are a couple of examples of this claim. PS A belated congratulations on your appointment as moderator, Tom. Have you ever seen a wet hen? If the Creek Don't Rise. "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." 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. Instead of "Well, I swear," Southerners have adopted a geographically inspired alternative. 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. And yes, they roll their eyes, too. But I know of just four instances from that century. Southerners adopted this phrase wholeheartedly from its early usages in 1700s England and Scotland (where it meant "common sense"). (KAIT) - Its been a busy 24 hours for first responders in Sharp County. 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. Youd be in a real fix then. You gonna do nothing?". 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. A Quite certainly not. This Southern saying, God Willing and the Creek Don't Rise. Charles Wilson said the flood waters are something he has to live with to enjoy residing on the river. As was the case with Dr Mattox, the remark is routinely attributed to first being said by Benjamin Hawkins. No, we don't mean you need to go fix your hair. This United Statesrelated article is a stub. Page created 25 Feb. 2012, Problems viewing this page? Your first citation is much stronger than your second. Does a bear shit in the woods? and the word HOPE. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. "Well I s'wanee" evokes the Southern Suwannee River. In the South, a hill of beans is its own measuring stick. But, what we do know is English once used you and ye strictly to address a group of people. 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. "If the good Lord's willing and the creek don't rise.". It may take the form of real or mock dialect, in variations like " Lor' willin' an' th' crick don' rise.". 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. Well, hells bells. I'm fixin' to tell you that this phrase is as Southern as sweet tea. Its not a recent change. As they returned home, some of them also killed some settlers in the Ohio valley. Werefixin to tell you more Southernisms, and now were doing just that. The tale is widely reproduced and believed nevertheless. 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!! Whether you're talking about volume or value, a hill of beans isn't worth much. If so, you know that being madder than a wet hen is very mad indeed. 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. They had a conversation in which the phrase was discussed and noted as being about the Creek Indians. Take a look at some of our favorite Southern sayings that we just couldn't live without. Grahams American Monthly Magazine, Jun. If the Creek rose, Hawkins would have to be present to quell the rebellion. writes one commentator.. 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. The Creek were a tribe of Native Americans (indians) who would ambush people who were traveling West. 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? However, with the west in flames, both whites and Indians began organizing fighters. In fact, virtually all the examples that Ive found in books and newspaper archives down to the present day are in lower-case. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. The proper phrase is Lord willing and the Creek don't rise. Phrase [ edit] Lord willing and the creek don't rise ( idiomatic, US, informal) Barring unforeseen circumstances. No matter where you go in Kentucky, the people often have some colorful expressions. 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. 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. When you're fixin' to do something, it's going to happen, but you also may decide to take your sweet time. Someone once said that when you visit the South, you need a translator. This article about the English language is a stub. An odd few (6% of Americans) do use soft drink, according to the Pop vs. It is sometimes thought that the word "Creek" instead refers to the Creek Indians, but this is unlikely. Its especially difficult for people that live south of River Road and some of them that live in Woodland Hills. It is a breathtaking and gritty portrayal of hillbilly life from the year 1970 which is set in the Appalachian Mountains. John Wayne. Somehow, the word went full circle and is now considered a distinctly Southern invention. You dont know whats underneath that water, Rose said. Get help and learn more about the design. "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. The thing isI read one that I have never stopped thinking about. Apparently Carter had a great many pills, because the phrase found its way into the Southern vocabulary. Over yonder past the cotton field. Its worth looking into because of the way in which it has been elaborated in the version you quote.. The most interesting often hail from our older generations, such as the WWII era and those raised by them. He was a politician and Indian agent. What Do Shrove Tuesday, Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday, And Lent Mean? 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. 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. 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. Step into the Deep South and experience the lives and hardships, hopes and dreams, of folk who have nothing except gritand sometimes loveas their currency. 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. [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. 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. The expression make groceries is a translation of the French faire son march (to do ones market shopping). Its a one-size-fits-all reply that can both express sympathy and insult someone, depending on the delivery. the creek don't rise " is an American slang expression implying strong intentions subject to complete frustration by uncommon but not unforeseeable events. What's The Difference Between Y'all And Ya'll? 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. That means whatever you're talking about is worth less than very little. This was an extremely enjoyable read! A multipurpose Southernism. Can't Never Could. Curiously, this word might have roots in offbeat British humor from the 1840s. Come visit me at LeahWeiss.com where you can subscribe to my CREEKRISE author news. 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. 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.". It is 1970, and we follow the story of a young Appalachian girl, Sadie Blue age 17, pregnant and newly married to an evil young man who is abusive. But today Ive stumbled across the claim that it refers to an uprising by the Creek (or Cree) Indians. (I would not be surprised to discover that the last contributor on your first link is none other than our own samclem.). All rights reserved. DeSantis's year-long quest to strip Disney of its self-rule came after the entertainment giant, and Florida's . For instance, I might promise to show up for Christmas at Grandmas if the good Lords willing and the creek dont rise. Nor is grammar an argument in favor the the subject being plural. Not one shred of evidence is a clear invitation to fault the writer. Because that is supposedly how the original author first wrote it. And really, wouldn't we all druther have our druthers? Her grandmother Gladys tells us of her awful past ridden with the drunkenness and senseless abuse. New words appear; old ones fall out of use or alter their meanings. Marty Stuart places the words "If the Good Lord's willin' and the creek don't rise, we'll see you in the mornin'." (LogOut/ This string of double negatives is actually meant as encouragement! It turns out that the phrase was written by Benjamin Hawkins in the late 18th century. It happens often during a Southern summer, when the heat rises and the temperatures shoot past 100. 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. Most of the ones on paved roads had bridges or culverts by that time, but not all of them and everyone still clearly knew what that saying meant even if the threat wasnt very real anymore. 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. If we relied on written sources it would be hard to believe in such continued use. 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).. Throughout the years, through these floods, weve had several roads that have washed completely out, so you just dont know whats down there.. If the Creek Don't Rise is a collection of hard-used characters, tangled relationships, family angst, and fortitude. IF THE CREEK DON'T RISE is character driven and one fine gritty and entertaining debut with one fine satisfying ending! Grahams American Monthly Magazine, Jun. Positive thinking, Southern style. It was set in the Ozark mountains featuring what some people called a witch. And of course, there's nothing prettier than a warm summer day picking peaches in the sunshine. Thats a mouthful, but we lumped these all together because they are allsubstitutes for (God) d*mn it. 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!. In the 1900s, the word evolved, taking on a Southern spin as well as new meanings such as "courage" and "get-up-and-go.". 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. Theres probably a connection between eternal damnation and tarnation. Wheres my blasted phone?. If you've just had a big Southern lunch, complete with cornbread, collard greens, and pecan pie, you're definitely full as a tick. Well, I found it. 'Cause everything's fine, God, I wish it were . Look up Lord willing and the creek don't rise in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. 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. Baines Creek, high up in the Appalachian mountain, a poor place filled with impoverished people, a place where moonshine is king. This page was last edited on 17 January 2023, at 01:18. While in the south, Hawkins was requested by the President of the U.S. to return to Washington. 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. We admit that we've heard this Southernism more than once. 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. What better way to sweeten the sour than with a classic Southern libation? Unarguable Southern criticism. Translated, this means: "We'll be there unless something out of our control stops us." Baines Creek is a small remote mountain settlement in North Carolina where many can't read, education is unheard of and catastrophic poverty is the norm. Dont worry, if youre helping a friend make groceries, youre not expected to create food from scratch. Soda web site devoted to this age-old debate. Don't worry, though, everyone hears this every now and again. 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. A: "Do you reckon we'll have enough from this harvest to make ends meet?" B: "God willing and the creek don't rise." If you hear this one, it's best to slow down. There's two or three creeks," he said. 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. And yes, they roll their eyes, too. 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. 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. 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 reminded me not to be reminded of you. 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. The underscore of that sentiment would be that he married his common-law wife on his deathbed and she was of the Creek Indians. Change). However, if you're from the South, you know that sometimes there's just no other way to get your point across. What Grandma says when you pull in the driveway, pop out of the car, and come running. Georgia-born blogger Jennifer Collins says she always rolled her eyes when her mom said this to her. 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. Whatscatawampus? In his experience, it doesnt take much for local creeks and streams to cause trouble. If The Creek Don't Rise. A true Southern tradition. God willing and the creek don't rise If all goes as it should; if everything goes well. Although he admits when the rain starts to fall, it makes him a little nervous. Wow! 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.. 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). The approximately 20,000 Creek Indians that still exist reside in Oklahoma. Chief Rose is asking drivers to be cautious while out and about. Its worth looking into because of the way in which it has been elaborated in the version you quote. She captures the whole Appalachian scene - the vocabulary, the falling down houses, the likker, the poverty. Take a look here Michael: http://www.genealogynation.com/creek/. The exact tranlation might be, 'If God is willing, and there isn't a flood that would prevent us from meeting again next week'. Every researcher who has investigated the expression has dismissed an Indian connection as untrue. 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. Runnin around like a chicken with it's head . This was the phrase that he always used, at the end of each performance. As they returned home, some of them also killed some settlers in the Ohio valley.
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if the creek don't rise saying