Oh, how I loved this story - I simply didnt want it to end! Learn how your comment data is processed. In Gone With the Wind, Scarlett OHara says: I do declare, Frank Kennedy, if you dont look dashing with that new set of whiskers!. It's a more conditional statement of intent than come hell or high water. The written record dates the saying from about the middle of the nineteenth century. Something needed to fill in the gap: Yall is one solution associated with the South, with all generally serving to clarify more than one you is being addressed. "The Good Lord willing and the 'creek' don't rise" is just one of them. This string of double negatives is actually meant as encouragement! 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. the creek don't rise " is an American slang expression implying strong intentions subject to complete frustration by uncommon but not unforeseeable events. Other words sites Page created 25 Feb. 2012, Problems viewing this page? Is this derivation correct? He was a politician and Indian agent. It turns out that the phrase was written by Benjamin Hawkins in the late 18th century. Unarguable Southern criticism. And of course, there's nothing prettier than a warm summer day picking peaches in the sunshine. They had a conversation in which the phrase was discussed and noted as being about the Creek Indians. 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.. This phrase isn't about physical appearance. Marty Stuart places the words "If the Good Lord's willin' and the creek don't rise, we'll see you in the mornin'." It turns out that the phrase was written by Benjamin Hawkins in the late 18th century. (KAIT) - Its been a busy 24 hours for first responders in Sharp County. Wheres my blasted phone?. 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. 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. The exact tranlation might be, 'If God is willing, and there isn't a flood that would prevent us from meeting again next week'. Over yonder past the cotton field. 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. "All get out" finds its way into Southern phrases constantly, and it intensifies any statement. Synonyms [ edit] (barring unforeseen circumstances): God willing, Lord willing Translations [ edit] show phrase References [ edit] The earliest example known is this mock rustic speech: Feller-citizens Im not customed to public speakin before sich highfalutin audiences. The tale is widely reproduced and believed nevertheless. Southerners adopted this phrase wholeheartedly from its early usages in 1700s England and Scotland (where it meant "common sense"). 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. The Lafayette gazette (Louisiana), 3 Nov. 1894. Lord willing and the creek don't rise, we'll have that new barn finished in time for the harvest. A very young, newly married pregnant woman, she vows her no good moonshining husband has beaten her for the last time. I ate that up with a spoon and did my best to read them all. Settle in, because whatever we're talking about is going to take all day. When you're fixin' to do something, it's going to happen, but you also may decide to take your sweet time. And that is the highest praise from me. Copyright Michael Quinion, 1996. (Or maybe the Piggly Wiggly, a Southern market chain that originated in Memphis, Tennessee). I am usually among those who bristle at change in usage. 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. 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. 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. 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. And I have used this page's title often-feeling quite sure I knew exactly what it meant. Poor little doggy. 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. Whatscatawampus? Soda web site devoted to this age-old debate. If you're trying to be nice, but you just can't quite let it go, "bless your heart" is a go-to. Because he capitalized Creek its asserted that he was referring to the Creek Indian tribe and not a body of water. Hang onto both and 'tough it out'. Kicked in the gut and sucker punched with one of the best books I have ever read. While there, we happened upon a museum dedicated to the Underground Railroad. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. If so, you know that being madder than a wet hen is very mad indeed. You'll most often hear it coming out of Mama's mouth when the kids are running amok. Older than Methuselah. Change). It completely nailed the "mountain living" that I remembered my grandmother talking about. (the good) Lord willing and the creek don't rise rural If all goes as it should; if everything goes well. 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. I reckon "I reckon" can replace any number of phrases, such as: I guess, I suppose, I think, and I imagine. This was a Traveling Sister Read with Brenda, Sarah, Jennifer and Porshajo. It can be summarised as "if all goes well". I'm fixin' to tell you that this phrase is as Southern as sweet tea. It is a breathtaking and gritty portrayal of hillbilly life from the year 1970 which is set in the Appalachian Mountains. A young woman goes missing and has the town both fearful and wondering. If the Creek Don't Rise Quotes Showing 1-14 of 14 "Times like these I wonder if I ever been happy. Who better to write about the risks of the Creek rising in revolt? 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. This United Statesrelated article is a stub. "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 that." 04 Mar 2023 03:30:05 1851. (LogOut/ It was a big old chunk of a book, so only a couple of the kids including myself read it. If the good Lord's willin and the creek don't rise. "We plan to be there," we might say, and then add on a quick, "Lord willing and the creek don't rise." It's another way of saying, "I am dead serious about keeping my word on this, short of a hurricane or earthquake." In other words, I'm doggedly committed to this unless the devil stops me. DeSantis ends Disney's free reign over Florida's "Don't Say Gay" bill. And yes, they roll their eyes, too. 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.. To cover your bases you might say, "I'll see you then if the creek don't rise." 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). This article about the English language is a stub. 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. (Yes, it is terrible grammar, but that is how it is said. Does a bear shit in the woods? 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. Quick, what do you call a soft drink? I was surprised as all get out. All rights reserved. In fact, Georgia and South Carolina produce more peaches than any other states in the South. 1851. In the 1900s, the word evolved, taking on a Southern spin as well as new meanings such as "courage" and "get-up-and-go.". Take a look here Michael: http://www.genealogynation.com/creek/. Be it Gods will, or, we go to war, my plans will go according to one of those two choices. Affixes dictionary. 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. 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. But, in the South, if your boss says that dog wont hunt in a meeting, it probably means your suggestion or idea needs improvement. 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. Andrew Jackson sent a request for reinforcements before the Battle Of New Orleans. Share. An odd few (6% of Americans) do use soft drink, according to the Pop vs. 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 only requirement is that you declare it loud and proud. 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. 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 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. Im told it was a sign-off tag line of the 1930s US radio broadcaster Bradley Kincaid. Georgia-born blogger Jennifer Collins says she always rolled her eyes when her mom said this to her. Baines Creek, high up in the Appalachian mountain, a poor place filled with impoverished people, a place where moonshine is king. Over yonder toward the water tower. 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. According to World Wide Words, when asked if it meant Creek Indians, their expert responded with: " Quite certainly not. Chief Rose is asking drivers to be cautious while out and about. Nor is grammar an argument in favor the the subject being plural. Select your currency from the list and click Donate. A: "Do you reckon we'll have enough from this harvest to make ends meet?" B: "God willing and the creek don't rise." While this phrase may sound made up, it's simply our multisyllabic manner of saying something is askew. According to World Wide Words, when asked if it meant Creek Indians, their expert responded with: Quite certainly not. What Grandma says when you pull in the driveway, pop out of the car, and come running. Maya Rodale is a best-selling romance author. 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. 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. Oh, if the good Lord's willing and the creek don't rise. Weiss has a unique voice. Cows aren't known for their speed, and they are usually out and about, wandering until feeding time. The distinct English dialect of the American South, which has a close relationship with Black English (African American Vernacular English), is fascinatingand plenty lively. "Like all great southern. Neither provides any documentation: http://pub122.ezboard.com/fwordoriginsorgfrm2.showMessage?topicID=191.topic, http://members.aol.com/MorelandC/HaveOriginsData.htm#LordWillingAndTheCreek. A true Southern tradition. Anything to the degree of "all get out" is something to talk about. Just wait till you see what Granny Gladys does..with a bit of help from Mother Nature..hehehe. Its not a recent change. 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). I agree that the Indian origin sounds unlikely. (LogOut/ If you hear this one, it's best to slow down. A rising creek could spell trouble, as it can lead to flooding and other issues. What better way to sweeten the sour than with a classic Southern libation? When you've met the girl of your dreams, chances are she is "pretty as a peach." 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. Its worth looking into because of the way in which it has been elaborated in the version you quote.. What in tarnation? 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. 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.