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. The phrase may be accompanied by a gesture indicating north, south, east, or west. 1851. 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. A friend of mine told me to shoot first and ask questions later. TOP 25 QUOTES BY JOHN WAYNE (of 133) | A-Z Quotes The clipping below from 1892 is a reference to flooding waterways not allowing the postmaster to get to his office. 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. Apparently Carter had a great many pills, because the phrase found its way into the Southern vocabulary. And really, wouldn't we all druther have our druthers? Grahams American Monthly Magazine, Jun. It mentions Benjamin Hawkins of the late 18th century, who was asked by the US president to go back to Washington. 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. Take a look here Michael: http://www.genealogynation.com/creek/. But, in the South, if your boss says that dog wont hunt in a meeting, it probably means your suggestion or idea needs improvement. Following that treaty John Siever formed the state of Franklin from land previously claimed by North Carolina but never ceded by the Indian tribes. 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. Only 15 days into her marriage to Roy Tupkin and Sadie Blue is already . This phrase can be intensified by the addition of the word "way," as in "way over yonder.". Which means if nothing crazy happens or anything out my control such as a natural disaster. This was an extremely enjoyable read! If the Creek Don't Rise: Tales From the South Kindle Edition Variants substitute "God" or "Good Lord" (with or without "the") for "Lord", and substitute "crick" or "river" for "creek", or capitalize it as "Creek" or "Creeks" based on confusion with the Creek Indian tribe. 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? Do You Know These Sizzlin' Southern Sayings? - Dictionary.com God willing and the creek don't rise - TheFreeDictionary.com Note that the Creek Nation(s) did not "rise" at all. 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. When you're fixin' to do something, it's going to happen, but you also may decide to take your sweet time. We didnt. IF THE CREEK DON'T RISE - Leah Weiss Learn how your comment data is processed. I was just hoping for something more concrete about the real origin. A sister who is afraid of losing her brother and Sadie's grandmother and aunt, all tell their stories adding to Sadie's own. (the good) Lord willing and the creek don't rise rural If all goes as it should; if everything goes well. Have you ever seen a wet hen? 133 Copy quote. Take a load off the ole dogs, sit on your front porch, and let your know neighbors know about that sugar honey iced teayou had to deal with today. 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. "He broke bout every piece of sweet in you. It turns out that the phrase was written by Benjamin Hawkins in the late 18th century. In Gone With the Wind, Scarlett OHara says: I do declare, Frank Kennedy, if you dont look dashing with that new set of whiskers!. Charles Wilson said the flood waters are something he has to live with to enjoy residing on the river. Page created 25 Feb. 2012, Problems viewing this page? 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. Some say farmers used to dunk their hens when they got broody. When you're exhausted in an I'm-so-beat-I-can't-go-on kind of way, you're definitely worn slap out. I see said the blind man to his deaf wife. The 1800s and 1900s were much simpler times, as people didn't have the luxuries afforded in modern times. From another source Some historians attribute Benjamin Hawkins as having been the first person to ever say these words and he did so in a letter to the President of the United States. She captures the whole Appalachian scene - the vocabulary, the falling down houses, the likker, the poverty. This was a Traveling Sister Read with Brenda, Sarah, Jennifer and Porshajo. The lyrics play on the expression Lord willing and the creek don't rise, which is thought to originate from Alabama. That book was a 1908 publication and leans toward the thought of Creek Indian, even if not capitalized, because of the word fire (as in shooting guns). In fact, Georgia and South Carolina produce more peaches than any other states in the South. the creek don't rise " is an American slang expression implying strong intentions subject to complete frustration by uncommon but not unforeseeable events. World Wide Words tries to record at least a part of this shifting wordscape by featuring new words, word histories, words in the news, and the curiosities of native English speech. Translated, it means, "He sure does think a lot of himself." document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Region 8 News on Twitter: ""You've heard that old saying, 'I'll be As was the case with Dr Mattox, the remark is routinely attributed to first being said by Benjamin Hawkins. "If the good Lord's willing and the creek don't rise.". The expression make groceries is a translation of the French faire son march (to do ones market shopping). 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. Doh! But in following verses the rhyme changes through "creeks don't rise", "creek stay low", back to "creeks don't rise". Although he admits when the rain starts to fall, it makes him a little nervous. 25 Southern Grandparents' Sayings That Deserve a Comeback, Forgotten Etiquette Every Child Should Learn, Kimberly Schlapman and Her Family's Tea Cakes, Lauren Alaina Talks 'American Idol', Southern Manners, and Her Grandmother's Famous Recipe, 30 Quotes That Remind Us Why Southern Manners Are So Important. In his response, he was said to write, "God willing and the Creek don't rise." What better way to sweeten the sour than with a classic Southern libation? 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. "Come Hell or high water" vs "Lord willing and the creek don't rise" (Im terrible about reading usernames as I scan threads, and I completely missed who had contributed that comment.). Southern Slang: If The Creek Don't Rise | What does it mean? | Ask A Actually this is not proven. The saying "God willing and the Creek don't rise." Came from those traveling west in the OLD DAYS. Rather, when this phrase is used, we'd like you to mind your manners and stop acting inappropriately. As they returned home, some of them also killed some settlers in the Ohio valley. 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. Synonyms [ edit] (barring unforeseen circumstances): God willing, Lord willing Translations [ edit] show phrase References [ edit] I'm fixin' to tell you that this phrase is as Southern as sweet tea. Some say it originated with the Scottish-Irish term ye aw. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. If you've just had a big Southern lunch, complete with cornbread, collard greens, and pecan pie, you're definitely full as a tick. 30 Phrases Only Southerners Use My officers and fire department, we went along the river houses and notified everybody and recommended evacuation, said Hardy Police Chief Scott Rose. I will continue to look for references to this phrase origin and would welcome discussion to prove (one way or the other) what the original author intended to mean. It can be deployed sincerely, but if you're hearing "bless your heart" in the South, it probably has an edge to it. Every researcher who has investigated the expression has dismissed an Indian connection as untrue. I was surprised as all get out. We do our best to keep our promises, but sometimes unforeseen circumstances come up. 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. Soda web site devoted to this age-old debate. 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. https://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=Lord_willing_and_the_creek_don%27t_rise&oldid=70955250. So, if during the time of Benjamin Hawkins life, the Creek Indians were experiencing the longest period of peace, why would he fear that they would 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. The story of Benjamin Hawkins relationship with the Creek,Cherokee, Choctaw and Chickasaw Indians goes back to 1786, when America was working on solidifying its hold on the new nation. DeSantis ends Disney's free reign over Florida's "Don't Say Gay" bill. Wheres my blasted phone?. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. That means whatever you're talking about is worth less than very little. 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. Note that the Creek Nation(s) did not rise at all. 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. 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. DeSantis's year-long quest to strip Disney of its self-rule came after the entertainment giant, and Florida's . 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. Talk:Lord willing and the creek don't rise - Wiktionary What is the origin of the phrase the good Lord willing and the creek dont rise? Its a one-size-fits-all reply that can both express sympathy and insult someone, depending on the delivery. by Leah Weiss. This string of double negatives is actually meant as encouragement! This United Statesrelated article is a stub. The Creek were a tribe of Native Americans (indians) who would ambush people who were traveling West. 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. If you use this phrase, you could be declaring any number of things: surprise, dissent, happiness. But we declareif your only knowledge of Southern sayings comes fromGone With the Wind, youre missing out on a lot of Southern expressions. origin of phrase - "if the creek don't rise" - Factual Questions Every researcher who has investigated the expression has dismissed an Indian connection as untrue. Theres probably a connection between eternal damnation and tarnation. 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. Used in a sentence - If the creek don't rise and God's willing, you should be able to see this video. I was going to ask him why, but I had to shoot him. The expression ". 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. IF THE CREEK DON'T RISE is character driven and one fine gritty and entertaining debut with one fine satisfying ending! 15 Odd Southern Sayings Their Origins - Bourbon and Boots What Grandma says when you pull in the driveway, pop out of the car, and come running. 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. If the Creek Don't Rise|Paperback - Barnes & Noble 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. 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). All the ones I know from growin up : r/ShitSouthernersSay Lord willing and the creek don't rise, we'll have that new barn finished in time for the harvest. 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. Select your currency from the list and click Donate. If the good Lord's willin and the creek don't rise. An exclamationof surprise, anger, happiness, really any emotionthat is appropriate in nearly every Southern scenario. History: God Willing And The Creek Dont Rise While in the south, Hawkins was requested by the President of the U.S. to return to Washington. Its worth looking into because of the way in which it has been elaborated in the version you quote.. This was the phrase that he always used, at the end of each performance. (KAIT) - Its been a busy 24 hours for first responders in Sharp County. A: "Do you reckon we'll have enough from this harvest to make ends meet?" B: "God willing and the creek don't rise." 15 Kentucky Sayings Other People Wouldn't Understand - OnlyInYourState God Willing and the Creek Don't Rise | Native Heritage Project If you find only minnows, though, they look even smaller compared to the heavy catch you hoped for. Georgia-born blogger Jennifer Collins says she always rolled her eyes when her mom said this to her. 1851. The proper phrase is Lord willing and the Creek don't rise. Lord Willing and the creek don't rise - English for Students 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. Instead of "Well, I swear," Southerners have adopted a geographically inspired alternative. Ireckon is the way many Southerners get to surmising about something or other. There is a lot of controversy about this fairly common folk saying. When you're in the South, "over yonder" is a distant directionany direction. Your first citation is much stronger than your second. If you hear this one, it's best to slow down. 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. 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. Whatscatawampus? "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. The English language is forever changing. Powered by Discourse, best viewed with JavaScript enabled, origin of phrase - "if the creek don't rise". A true Southern tradition. 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. Hardy citizens awoken by first responders urging evacuation If you're trying to be nice, but you just can't quite let it go, "bless your heart" is a go-to. They had a conversation in which the phrase was discussed and noted as being about the Creek Indians. And of course, there's nothing prettier than a warm summer day picking peaches in the sunshine. 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. 24 of 30. Just wait till you see what Granny Gladys does..with a bit of help from Mother Nature..hehehe. A preacher who hires a very different kind of woman than is usually found in these parts. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Share. "The Good Lord willing and the 'creek' don't rise" is just one of them. (the good) Lord willing and the creek don't rise - TheFreeDictionary.com Older than Methuselah. It's almost always accompanied by a good-natured, perhaps slightly exasperated, shake of the head. In the South, a hill of beans is its own measuring stick. Affixes dictionary. A strikingly sincere portrait of a town and its buried secrets from an outstanding new voice in southern fiction. The lyrics play on the expression Lord willing and the creek don't rise, which is thought to originate from Alabama. We've had a lot of delays, but God willing and the creek don't rise, we should have the house finished before winter. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. You Cant Use These English Words In The UK, Understanding Black History: 10 Terms That Illuminate The Black Experience In The US. A Quite certainly not. It can be summarised as "if all goes well". Lately, though, I have learned to wince quickly and let it go. Because he capitalized Creek its asserted that he was referring to the Creek Indian tribe and not a body of water. Devil's beating his wife (when it would be sunny and raining). Any of you word experts have solid information? Anecdotal evidence from people who have got in touch with me down the years suggests that it has been in regular use throughout the lifetimes of some elderly folk in parts of the US, either in the form you give or as the good Lord willing and the creek dont rise. The written record dates the saying from about the middle of the nineteenth century. Copyright 2023 KAIT. The "creek don't rise" phrase is now sometimes credited to this time of unrest and displacement. Pot callin the kettle black. purchase. The creek don't rise - Wikipedia Who better to write about the risks of the Creek rising in revolt? 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. If you hear this one, you should probably pause a moment. 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. You dont know whats underneath that water, Rose said. It was a big old chunk of a book, so only a couple of the kids including myself read it. At the time Hawkins was Congressman, he joined other well known Southeastern American leaders in negotiating a major treaty with the Creek and Cherokee at the South Carolina city of Hopewell. 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. (LogOut/ It is a breathtaking and gritty portrayal of hillbilly life from the year 1970 which is set in the Appalachian Mountains. We admit that we've heard this Southernism more than once.