(the good) Lord willing and the creek don't rise rural If all goes as it should; if everything goes well. 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. Every researcher who has investigated the expression has dismissed an Indian connection as untrue. 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. In response to a request that he return to Washington D.C., he wrote, "God willing and the Creek don't rise." "All get out" finds its way into Southern phrases constantly, and it intensifies any statement. Devil's beating his wife (when it would be sunny and raining). The Lafayette gazette (Louisiana), 3 Nov. 1894. The request was to a general that had troops near Horseshoe Bend Alabama, protecting settlers against a Creek Indian uprising. 24 of 30. Baines Creek, high up in the Appalachian mountain, a poor place filled with impoverished people, a place where moonshine is king. Historically, Southerners in the Appalachian mountains pronounced eternal as tarnal. That pronunciation suggests a clever word-smoosh between tarnal and damnation, so the savvy Appalachians could euphemistically express their anger without wasting an extra breath. (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.). There, we listened to amazing stories told by Dr. John Mattox. Some say farmers used to dunk their hens when they got broody. A multipurpose Southernism. 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. 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. 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. No bigger than a minnow in a fishing pond is as tiny as can be. "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." Its worth looking into because of the way in which it has been elaborated in the version you quote. World Wide Words is copyright Michael Quinion, 1996. 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. Somehow, the word went full circle and is now considered a distinctly Southern invention. If you hear this one, it's best to slow down. It's a more conditional statement of intent than come hell or high water. Its a one-size-fits-all reply that can both express sympathy and insult someone, depending on the delivery. 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. If the Creek Don't Rise Quotes Showing 1-14 of 14 "Times like these I wonder if I ever been happy. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. The catchphrase itself was associated with Hank Williams. I grew up with that saying and Ive said it more times than I can count. 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. 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. 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. Every researcher who has investigated the expression has dismissed an Indian connection as untrue. If you just heard your mama come home and you haven't finished your chores, she will definitely be "madder than a wet hen." It took a further decade for it to become popular as a supposedly hayseed utterance, sometimes as and the crick dont rise to reflect a regional form. Paperback, 305 pages. A rising creek could spell trouble, as it can lead to flooding and other issues. The tale is widely reproduced and believed nevertheless. And of course, there's nothing prettier than a warm summer day picking peaches in the sunshine. Although he admits when the rain starts to fall, it makes him a little nervous. This United Statesrelated article is a stub. Marty Stuart places the words "If the Good Lord's willin' and the creek don't rise, we'll see you in the mornin'." "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." 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. 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. Jan 29, 2014 at 19:34 . 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. And yes, they roll their eyes, too. All rights reserved. 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. It may take the form of real or mock dialect, in variations like " Lor' willin' an' th' crick don' rise.". Or, depending on where you live, it could be Sewanee, the small college town in Tennessee. Actually this is not proven. When the road looks rough ahead, remember the 'Man upstairs'. However, with the west in flames, both whites and Indians began organizing fighters. 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. 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. If the Creek Dont Rise by Leah Weiss is a 2017 Sourcebooks Landmark publication. Some newspaper clippings are harder to determine which meaning they meant. "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. If the Creek Don't Rise by Leah Weiss (Author), Tom Stechschulte (Narrator), Kate Forbes (Narrator). It can be deployed sincerely, but if you're hearing "bless your heart" in the South, it probably has an edge to it. But, in the South, if your boss says that dog wont hunt in a meeting, it probably means your suggestion or idea needs improvement. There is no typical Southern accent. Select your currency from the list and click Donate. In the Deep South? The written record dates the saying from about the middle of the nineteenth century. 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. Any of you word experts have solid information? A preacher who hires a very different kind of woman than is usually found in these parts. It must surely be the creation of a fertile modern mind desiring to put the flesh of evidence on the dry bones of outright invention. The saying "God willing and the Creek don't rise." Came from those traveling west in the OLD DAYS. She captures the whole Appalachian scene - the vocabulary, the falling down houses, the likker, the poverty. Many thanks to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for the ARC in return for an unbiased review. False folk etymology. 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. 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. The word you use for a fizzy, carbonated drink reveals a lot more about you than you know. Like trying to meet a friend for lunch but having the car breakdown on the way. 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). 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. There's two or three creeks," he said. An exclamationof surprise, anger, happiness, really any emotionthat is appropriate in nearly every Southern scenario. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. It can be summarised as if all goes well. What better way to sweeten the sour than with a classic Southern libation? Over yonder toward the water tower. The catchphrase itself was associated with Hank Williams. What in tarnation? 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. Two years after the signing of the treaty, Benjamin Hawkins died at the site known as Old Agency. When a fellers fixin to do something, theyre about to do it. Ain't got no dog in that race. "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]. But did he really say the words quoted or was a phrase morphed to include him as the author? 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 . 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. 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. Where did this contraction, popular in both African American English and Southern American English, come from? Weiss has a unique voice. New words appear; old ones fall out of use or alter their meanings. The phrase may be accompanied by a gesture indicating north, south, east, or west. Werefixin to tell you more Southernisms, and now were doing just that. Is this derivation correct? Thats a mouthful, but we lumped these all together because they are allsubstitutes for (God) d*mn it. However, the first President to move to Washington was John Adams on 1 November 1800. 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. 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. The lyrics play on the expression Lord willing and the creek don't rise, which is thought to originate from Alabama. Required fields are marked *. 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 you find only minnows, though, they look even smaller compared to the heavy catch you hoped for. We've had a lot of delays, but God willing and the creek don't rise, we should have the house finished before winter. 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. It is a breathtaking and gritty portrayal of hillbilly life from the year 1970 which is set in the Appalachian Mountains. Some say it originated with the Scottish-Irish term ye aw. If the Creek rose, Hawkins would have to be present to quell the rebellion. writes one commentator.. 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. The Creek so-called civil war of 1812 involving the Red Stick faction, and their combat North and South, appears to have been an impetus for that forts creation. Your email address will not be published. There is no reason to suppose the Indian variant is true. 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? I see said the blind man to his deaf wife. Page created 25 Feb. 2012, Problems viewing this page? This book reminds me of that. Doh! Get help and learn more about the design. 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!! 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. From the start there's been a film of dingy on my days.. DeSantis ends Disney's free reign over Florida's "Don't Say Gay" bill. What's The Difference Between Y'all And Ya'll? 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. Theres two or three creeks, he said. In fact, virtually all the examples that Ive found in books and newspaper archives down to the present day are in lower-case. Catawampus(or, cattywampus) may have been popularized by Brits who delighted in parodying Southern vernacular. 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. 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 thing isI read one that I have never stopped thinking about. This is a point of emphasis and exclamation that often ends without any additional telling at all. Stop right there! No, we don't mean you need to go fix your hair. PS A belated congratulations on your appointment as moderator, Tom. 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. Whether you're talking about volume or value, a hill of beans isn't worth much. 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!. A: "Do you reckon we'll have enough from this harvest to make ends meet?" This was an extremely enjoyable read! (KAIT) - Its been a busy 24 hours for first responders in Sharp County. Origin debaters point to Col. Benjamin Hawkins of North Carolina, a Continental Congress senator. If someone tells you that you've got gumption, you should thank them, and then walk a little taller, because you've received a lovely Southern compliment. 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. Wow! Positive thinking, Southern style. Settle in, because whatever we're talking about is going to take all day. The proper phrase is Lord willing and the Creek don't rise. Yelling out this humorous backronym for sh*tmight just tame the anger a bit. Theres probably a connection between eternal damnation and tarnation. An odd few (6% of Americans) do use soft drink, according to the Pop vs. 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.

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