Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. I agree that the Indian origin sounds unlikely. A search for the word rise does not produce this phrase, so it appears that the body of water theory was correct after all. It can be summarised as "if all goes well". 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. Lyndon Johnsons wife Lady Bird was fond of the phrase, and she wasnt one to cast aspersions on native Americans. 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. It can be summarised as if all goes well. Jan 29, 2014 at 19:34 . Well, I found it. I will be at church on Sunday. "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. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), http://www.aboutnorthgeorgia.com/ang/Benjamin_Hawkins, Follow Thoughts and Ponderances on WordPress.com. And yes, they roll their eyes, too. 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. Following that treaty John Siever formed the state of Franklin from land previously claimed by North Carolina but never ceded by the Indian tribes. It's often said in a reassuring way, to calm people down and encourage them to keep on trying. When the road looks rough ahead, remember the 'Man upstairs'. God willing and the creek don't rise If all goes as it should; if everything goes well. 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. If the Creek Don't Rise Quotes Showing 1-14 of 14 "Times like these I wonder if I ever been happy. Does a bear shit in the woods? 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. 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. My officers and fire department, we went along the river houses and notified everybody and recommended evacuation, said Hardy Police Chief Scott Rose. He would tell the audience that we would meet again, "If the good Lord's willin', and the creek don't rise". It happens often during a Southern summer, when the heat rises and the temperatures shoot past 100. This phrase enjoyed national exposure in 1988 after Texas Governor Ann Richards remarked: When we pay billions for planes that wont fly, billions for tanks that wont fire, and billions for systems that wont workthat old dog wont hunt.. If youre not using this phrase what are you waiting for? An exclamationof surprise, anger, happiness, really any emotionthat is appropriate in nearly every Southern scenario. In the 1900s, the word evolved, taking on a Southern spin as well as new meanings such as "courage" and "get-up-and-go.". The second contributor on the AOL site is simply repeating things without any understanding. 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. Speaking ofI declare, this now old-fashioned phrase acts as flustered response to an insult or an unbelievable story about someone who sadly made it into the rumor mill. "All get out" finds its way into Southern phrases constantly, and it intensifies any statement. I see some folks walk easy and carry peace on their shoulders, but I been chained to a iron life." Leah Weiss, If the Creek Don't Rise 3 likes Like I've never forgotten it and it's drove me nuts because I would love a copy of it. Required fields are marked *. IF THE CREEK DON'T RISE is character driven and one fine gritty and entertaining debut with one fine satisfying ending! What in tarnation? "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." Wow! This was the phrase that he always used, at the end of each performance. 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. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Weiss has a unique voice. (I would not be surprised to discover that the last contributor on your first link is none other than our own samclem.). Its worth looking into because of the way in which it has been elaborated in the version you quote.. Its not a recent change. (KAIT) - Its been a busy 24 hours for first responders in Sharp County. It's a vivid phrase, and it's an accurate one too. "He broke bout every piece of sweet in you. Page created 25 Feb. 2012, Problems viewing this page? If you've just had a big Southern lunch, complete with cornbread, collard greens, and pecan pie, you're definitely full as a tick. But I know of just four instances from that century. 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. The 1800s and 1900s were much simpler times, as people didn't have the luxuries afforded in modern times. It is sometimes thought that the word "Creek" instead refers to the Creek Indians, but this is unlikely. Turn around, and please dont drive through it. Origin debaters point to Col. Benjamin Hawkins of North Carolina, a Continental Congress senator. When you're in the South, "over yonder" is a distant directionany direction. I ate that up with a spoon and did my best to read them all. Which means if nothing crazy happens or anything out my control such as a natural disaster. All rights reserved. It is a breathtaking and gritty portrayal of hillbilly life from the year 1970 which is set in the Appalachian Mountains. I absolutely loved the southern voice of these characters throughout this book. And, when the doins been done, the feller done did it. This book reminds me of that. 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. Its especially difficult for people that live south of River Road and some of them that live in Woodland Hills. What Do Shrove Tuesday, Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday, And Lent Mean? However, if you're from the South, you know that sometimes there's just no other way to get your point across. There is a lot of controversy about this fairly common folk saying. It was a big old chunk of a book, so only a couple of the kids including myself read it. Dont worry, if youre helping a friend make groceries, youre not expected to create food from scratch. Is this derivation correct? While there, we happened upon a museum dedicated to the Underground Railroad. the creek don't rise. Ireckon is the way many Southerners get to surmising about something or other. Change). 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). If the Creek Don't Rise is a collection of hard-used characters, tangled relationships, family angst, and fortitude. 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). Funny Phrases ben stanczyk 10/25/01 It's raining cats and dogs. Over yonder past the cotton field. Over yonder toward the water tower. And yes, I have heard the music of this culture and watched the dancing. Southerners tell it like it isno matter what it isso think of this as a learning moment. 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. You will have spotted that neither of these capitalises creek, which suggests they didnt have the Creek people in mind. 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. 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. However, this is clearly one of those evolving language cases. What better way to sweeten the sour than with a classic Southern libation? I've been in a slump of just ok books and was craving one that was special. Every researcher who has investigated the expression has dismissed an Indian connection as untrue. Andrew Jackson sent a request for reinforcements before the Battle Of New Orleans. 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. Marty Stuart places the words "If the Good Lord's willin' and the creek don't rise, we'll see you in the mornin'." Im a longtime admirer of your calm demeanor and encyclopedic knowledge. To cover your bases you might say, "I'll see you then if the creek don't rise." 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. Over yonder down the road. The Creek were a tribe of Native Americans (indians) who would ambush people who were traveling West. "If the good Lord's willing and the creek don't rise.". 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. If we relied on written sources it would be hard to believe in such continued use. The approximately 20,000 Creek Indians that still exist reside in Oklahoma. The catchphrase itself was associated with Hank Williams. If you use this phrase, you could be declaring any number of things: surprise, dissent, happiness. If you just heard your mama come home and you haven't finished your chores, she will definitely be "madder than a wet hen." 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. 1851. If you think you can't, you won't be able to accomplish something, but if you think you can, you'll succeed. 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. The lyrics play on the expression Lord willing and the creek don't rise, which is thought to originate from Alabama. Threats not only from abroad, but internally as well, forced the fledgling nation to negotiate treaties with the tribes on the western frontier. We didnt. 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. 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.. 15. Werefixin to tell you more Southernisms, and now were doing just that. 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. Feller-citizens Im not customed to public speakin before sich highfalutin audiences. What is the origin of the phrase the good Lord willing and the creek dont rise? If the good Lord's willin and the creek don't rise. Well, at least we thought we did.but maybe not. Not one shred of evidence is a clear invitation to fault the writer. And, good Lord willing and the creek don't rise, come March of next year, I'll be 225 years old. An odd few (6% of Americans) do use soft drink, according to the Pop vs. 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. They were both corrected by a good soul who told them that Creek, for the purposes of this phrases origin, meant Creek Indian. 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. 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. (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.). Firsts, Mines, Asks. Kicked in the gut and sucker punched with one of the best books I have ever read. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. "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]. When I was growing up, this was something we said all of the time. Lately, though, I have learned to wince quickly and let it go. A true Southern tradition. The tale is widely reproduced and believed nevertheless. He told us about a young man who had been in the museum some weeks previous. While this phrase may sound made up, it's simply our multisyllabic manner of saying something is askew. Your email address will not be published. No matter where you go in Kentucky, the people often have some colorful expressions. 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. A young woman goes missing and has the town both fearful and wondering. When you're exhausted in an I'm-so-beat-I-can't-go-on kind of way, you're definitely worn slap out. It has been noted that the phrase should be correctly written as God willing and the Creek dont rise. I am usually among those who bristle at change in usage. From the start there's been a film of dingy on my days.. And that is the highest praise from me. "If God so wills, and as long as intense rain does not wash away bridges or parts of dirt roads, or cover roads too deeply for safely following them." 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. 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. As was the case with Dr Mattox, the remark is routinely attributed to first being said by Benjamin Hawkins. But we declareif your only knowledge of Southern sayings comes fromGone With the Wind, youre missing out on a lot of Southern expressions. Take a look here Michael: http://www.genealogynation.com/creek/. The General replied to Stonewall Jackson that he would send troops "the Good Lord is willing and the Creeks don't rise (in rebellion). This is a point of emphasis and exclamation that often ends without any additional telling at all. 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. Copyright 2023 KAIT. But did he really say the words quoted or was a phrase morphed to include him as the author? There is no typical Southern accent. 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. Stop right there! In his reply, he was said to have written, God willing and the Creek dont rise. 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. "Creek" originated as a reference to creeks flooding and preventing travel, but is sometimes re-interpreted as a reference to the Creek tribe. The written record dates the saying from about the middle of the nineteenth century. Someone once said that when you visit the South, you need a translator. If the Creek rose, Hawkins would have to be present to quell the rebellion. writes one commentator.. 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. Every researcher who has investigated the expression has dismissed an Indian connection as untrue. Select your currency from the list and click Donate. 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. If you find only minnows, though, they look even smaller compared to the heavy catch you hoped for. 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. I was surprised as all get out. This was an extremely enjoyable read! Is It Called Presidents Day Or Washingtons Birthday? Though youre likely to hear Southernisms such as. It's true, we do have a mouthful of sayings that only Southerners understand. The proper phrase is Lord willing and the Creek don't rise. After eating a big, delicious Southern dinner Granny just made, you have to finish up with a slice of sweet potato pie, right? 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. The earliest example known is this mock rustic speech: Feller-citizens Im not customed to public speakin before sich highfalutin audiences.
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