No bigger than a minnow in a fishing pond is as tiny as can be. Page created 25 Feb. 2012, Problems viewing this page? A true Southern tradition. It is a physical and mental state a few degrees past weary and just this side of dog-tired. 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. It happens often during a Southern summer, when the heat rises and the temperatures shoot past 100. 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. 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. Runnin around like a chicken with it's head . 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. DeSantis ends Disney's free reign over Florida's "Don't Say Gay" bill. In the Deep South? In Gone With the Wind, Scarlett OHara says: I do declare, Frank Kennedy, if you dont look dashing with that new set of whiskers!. the creek don't rise " is an American slang expression implying strong intentions subject to complete frustration by uncommon but not unforeseeable events. Or, depending on where you live, it could be Sewanee, the small college town in Tennessee. Look up Lord willing and the creek don't rise in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. A friend of mine told me to shoot first and ask questions later. 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. [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. Instead of "Well, I swear," Southerners have adopted a geographically inspired alternative. If you refer to itno matter the brand or flavoras Coke, chances are you grew up in the South. Mentioning Benjamin Hawkins is a masterstroke, since he was the General Superintendent for Indian Affairs between 1796 and 1818 and was principal Indian agent to the Creek nation; he became so close to its people that he learned their language, was adopted by them and married a Creek woman. Kicked in the gut and sucker punched with one of the best books I have ever read. "All get out" finds its way into Southern phrases constantly, and it intensifies any statement. 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. Well, that might just push you over the edge, and as you lean back youre bound to say, Im as full as a tick. Itd be plumb crazy not to express yourself (and your full belly) with this fun, old Southern idiom. The History And Traditions That Make Hanukkah Light Up, Examples Of Ableist Language You May Not Realize Youre Using, Winter 2023 New Words: Everything, Everywhere, All At Once, Fall In Love With 14 Captivating Valentines Day Words, Rizz And 7 Other Slang Trends That Explain The Internet In 2023, Win With Qi And This List Of Our Best Scrabble Words, We Had ChatGPT Coin Nonsense PhrasesAnd Then We Defined Them, Surprise! For instance if someone invites you to church on Sunday, you would respond "I'll be there with bells on God Willing and the Creek Don't Rise.". In his reply, he was said to have written, God willing and the Creek dont rise. IF THE CREEK DON'T RISE is character driven and one fine gritty and entertaining debut with one fine satisfying ending! The expression ". If you're trying to be nice, but you just can't quite let it go, "bless your heart" is a go-to. Because this is a progressive verb (youll make progress with it for sure), remember You were fixin to patch the hole in the wall. Never say you fixed to do it! It turns out that the phrase was written by Benjamin Hawkins in the late 18th century. Come visit me at LeahWeiss.com where you can subscribe to my CREEKRISE author news. Dont worry, if youre helping a friend make groceries, youre not expected to create food from scratch. This one originates from the 19th century, when Carter Products marketed "Little Liver Pills" across the country. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. A search for the word rise does not produce this phrase, so it appears that the body of water theory was correct after all. 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). 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. The saying "God willing and the Creek don't rise." Came from those traveling west in the OLD DAYS. Cant never could is a reminder that if you dont even try, you wont ever accomplish your goal. Funny Phrases ben stanczyk 10/25/01 Andrew Jackson sent a request for reinforcements before the Battle Of New Orleans. According to World Wide Words, when asked if it meant Creek Indians, their expert responded with: " Quite certainly not. 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. 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. Eventually, you became a singular pronoun, and we lost the plural pronouns. Someone kicked in with we say cricks. (LogOut/ Werefixin to tell you more Southernisms, and now were doing just that. And that is the highest praise from me. She's not looking for sweets; she wants a hug and a kiss. It can be summarised as "if all goes well". To cover your bases you might say, "I'll see you then if the creek don't rise." This book reminds me of that. I reckon "I reckon" can replace any number of phrases, such as: I guess, I suppose, I think, and I imagine. Over yonder down the road. Share. He told us about a young man who had been in the museum some weeks previous. 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.. 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. A true Southern tradition. I always took it as a reference to the level of water in a creek. 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. by Leah Weiss. 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. Positive thinking, Southern style. 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 . If you've read the book summary, you already know Sadie Blue lives with a devil of a man, but she's not the only one who has lived with a wife beater of a husband. Your email address will not be published. Wheres my blasted phone?. Feller-citizens Im not customed to public speakin before sich highfalutin audiences. Hang onto both and 'tough it out'. I've been in a slump of just ok books and was craving one that was special. Threats not only from abroad, but internally as well, forced the fledgling nation to negotiate treaties with the tribes on the western frontier. A: "Do you reckon we'll have enough from this harvest to make ends meet?" B: "God willing and the creek don't rise." Whether you're talking about volume or value, a hill of beans isn't worth much. 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. Given that many small farm streams were crossed without bridges, which worked find most of the time, a swollen stream would cause problems. Required fields are marked *. Rather, when this phrase is used, we'd like you to mind your manners and stop acting inappropriately. Because that is supposedly how the original author first wrote it. Catawampus(or, cattywampus) may have been popularized by Brits who delighted in parodying Southern vernacular. In his experience, it doesnt take much for local creeks and streams to cause trouble. Its a more conditional statement of intent than come hell or high water. Neither provides any documentation: http://pub122.ezboard.com/fwordoriginsorgfrm2.showMessage?topicID=191.topic, http://members.aol.com/MorelandC/HaveOriginsData.htm#LordWillingAndTheCreek. There is no typical Southern accent. Thats exactly who I was hoping would reply to my question. If the creek don't risewas a whimsical way of saying that the speaker would carry out some task provided that no figurative obstacle were put in his path. Eli is the backbone of the community; all he wants is a better life for the people of Baines Creek evidenced by the succession of teachers he has procured.and been scared off, and his scheming troublemaking spinster of a sister Prudence who "don't like nobody" doesn't help matters any, but when the giant 6' 2" Kate Shaw arrives, wellthat's another story. If you've ever been caught in a summer storm, you know that you can feel, smell, and see a storm blowin' up across the wide Southern skies. It's true, we do have a mouthful of sayings that only Southerners understand. Chief Rose is asking drivers to be cautious while out and about. https://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=Lord_willing_and_the_creek_don%27t_rise&oldid=70955250. Yes, I had heard of the Appalachians and how the culture spreads along those mountains over more than a dozen States. It can be summarised as if all goes well. Your first citation is much stronger than your second. Settle in, because whatever we're talking about is going to take all day. Grahams American Monthly Magazine, Jun. Be it Gods will, or, we go to war, my plans will go according to one of those two choices. And yes, I have heard the music of this culture and watched the dancing. If so, you know that being madder than a wet hen is very mad indeed. This article about the English language is a stub. 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. Learn how your comment data is processed. Well, at least we thought we did.but maybe not. Someone once said that when you visit the South, you need a translator. 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. The underscore of that sentiment would be that he married his common-law wife on his deathbed and she was of the Creek Indians. 133 Copy quote. My officers and fire department, we went along the river houses and notified everybody and recommended evacuation, said Hardy Police Chief Scott Rose. Can't Never Could. If the Creek Dont Rise by Leah Weiss is a 2017 Sourcebooks Landmark publication. Copyright Michael Quinion, 1996. 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 I was just hoping for something more concrete about the real origin. Grahams American Monthly Magazine, Jun. What Do Shrove Tuesday, Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday, And Lent Mean? It was so enjoyable and fun reading and discussing the book with them. Lyndon Johnsons wife Lady Bird was fond of the phrase, and she wasnt one to cast aspersions on native Americans. 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. You gonna let him break your spirit, too? You'll most often hear it coming out of Mama's mouth when the kids are running amok. The request was to a general that had troops near Horseshoe Bend Alabama, protecting settlers against a Creek Indian uprising. "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. [3] The capitalization of the word Creek supposedly referred to the Creek Indian tribe rather than a body of water.[4][5]. We admit that we've heard this Southernism more than once. The most interesting often hail from our older generations, such as the WWII era and those raised by them. We've had a lot of delays, but God willing and the creek don't rise, we should have the house finished before winter. Many thanks to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for the ARC in return for an unbiased review. 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. Ain't got no dog in that race. Actually this is not proven. And yes, they roll their eyes, too. Like trying to meet a friend for lunch but having the car breakdown on the way. "Like all great southern. Select your currency from the list and click Donate. Grandma might whisper this one over her hymnal if she sees you cutting up in church on Sunday morning. This page was last edited on 17 January 2023, at 01:18. 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. 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. You Cant Use These English Words In The UK, Understanding Black History: 10 Terms That Illuminate The Black Experience In The US. Some say farmers used to dunk their hens when they got broody. (Or maybe the Piggly Wiggly, a Southern market chain that originated in Memphis, Tennessee). It's a vivid phrase, and it's an accurate one too. It's a more conditional statement of intent than come hell or high water. 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. Nor is grammar an argument in favor the the subject being plural. An odd few (6% of Americans) do use soft drink, according to the Pop vs. The Lafayette gazette (Louisiana), 3 Nov. 1894. 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. 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. We've had a lot of delays, but Lord willing and the creek don't rise, we should have the house finished before winter. I agree that the Indian origin sounds unlikely. 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. If the creek rises, travel will be impossible and Ill never get to Grannys. False folk etymology. Note that the Creek Nation(s) did not rise at all. (KAIT) - Its been a busy 24 hours for first responders in Sharp County. It was a big old chunk of a book, so only a couple of the kids including myself read it. It was bad as all get out. Your email address will not be published. And I have used this page's title often-feeling quite sure I knew exactly what it meant. A young woman goes missing and has the town both fearful and wondering. He was a politician and Indian agent. I was going to ask him why, but I had to shoot him. When you're exhausted in an I'm-so-beat-I-can't-go-on kind of way, you're definitely worn slap out. The catchphrase itself was associated with Hank Williams. You gonna do nothing?". "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. When I was growing up, this was something we said all of the time. I was surprised as all get out. Other words sites You might say cocola. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. We didnt. It mentions Benjamin Hawkins of the late 18th century, who was asked by the US president to go back to Washington. 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!. It is a quintessential Southern phrase, said by friends and family on porches and in rocking chairs all across the South. I see said the blind man to his deaf wife. A handful of rivers and streams will be out of their banks by Friday evening and Saturday morning. A Quite certainly not. 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. What's The Difference Between Y'all And Ya'll? (Yes, it is terrible grammar, but that is how it is said. He wrote it in response to a request from the President to return to our Nations Capital and the reference is not to a creek, but The Creek Indian Nation. Where did this contraction, popular in both African American English and Southern American English, come from? All rights reserved.This page URL: http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-god1.htmLast modified: 25 February 2012. The tale is widely reproduced and believed nevertheless. Learn how your comment data is processed. All rights reserved. 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. Affixes dictionary. Don't worry, though, everyone hears this every now and again. 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. Do You Know These Sizzlin Southern Sayings. Accents vary by regionand sometimes even city to city. 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. Used in a sentence - If the creek don't rise and God's willing, you should be able to see this video. Does a bear shit in the woods? 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. What better way to sweeten the sour than with a classic Southern libation? Well, I found it. It completely nailed the "mountain living" that I remembered my grandmother talking about. 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. Wow! Anything to the degree of "all get out" is something to talk about. 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. Origin debaters point to Col. Benjamin Hawkins of North Carolina, a Continental Congress senator. A rising creek could spell trouble, as it can lead to flooding and other issues. There is a lot of controversy about this fairly common folk saying. All rights reserved. This phrase isn't about physical appearance. The General replied to Stonewall Jackson that he would send troops "the Good Lord is willing and the Creeks don't rise (in rebellion). 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). 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. I grew up with that saying and Ive said it more times than I can count. Following that treaty John Siever formed the state of Franklin from land previously claimed by North Carolina but never ceded by the Indian tribes. 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. Some say it originated with the Scottish-Irish term ye aw. Georgia-born blogger Jennifer Collins says she always rolled her eyes when her mom said this to her. If you hear this one, it's best to slow down. That means whatever you're talking about is worth less than very little. "Creek" originated as a reference to creeks flooding and preventing travel, but is sometimes re-interpreted as a reference to the Creek tribe. Theres two or three creeks, he said. What in tarnation? He would tell the audience that we would meet again, "If the good Lord's willin', and the creek don't rise". Im a longtime admirer of your calm demeanor and encyclopedic knowledge. It may take the form of real or mock dialect, in variations like " Lor' willin' an' th' crick don' rise.". "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." For instance, I might promise to show up for Christmas at Grandmas if the good Lords willing and the creek dont rise. Although he admits when the rain starts to fall, it makes him a little nervous. 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 Have you ever seen a wet hen? Copy furnished by Net Galley for the price of a review. The 1800s and 1900s were much simpler times, as people didn't have the luxuries afforded in modern times. The lyrics play on the expression Lord willing and the creek don't rise, which is thought to originate from Alabama. 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. 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. 132 Copy quote. New words appear; old ones fall out of use or alter their meanings. Is this derivation correct? 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. This was the phrase that he always used, at the end of each performance. "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 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). Older than Methuselah. 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. 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. Throughout the years, through these floods, weve had several roads that have washed completely out, so you just dont know whats down there.. As I was in a museum, I felt confident in repeating the knowledge to others as fact. And, when the doins been done, the feller done did it. As they returned home, some of them also killed some settlers in the Ohio valley. Charles Wilson said the flood waters are something he has to live with to enjoy residing on the river. I've never forgotten it and it's drove me nuts because I would love a copy of it. The earliest example known is this mock rustic speech: Feller-citizens Im not customed to public speakin before sich highfalutin audiences. I will be at church on Sunday. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 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. Weiss has a unique voice. Somehow, the word went full circle and is now considered a distinctly Southern invention. It's raining cats and dogs. Stop right there! Maybe not all dogs were made for hunting some prefer the warmth of a fireplace and the comfort of your lap. Weiss has spun me upside down in this backward county in the Appalachian mountains and made a southerner out of me. 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. 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).. 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. 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. You may still hear it if you stop into a country store. Tensions between settlers and both tribes had been rising following the Treaty of Augusta and the land cessions of 1782-1783. If you use this phrase, you could be declaring any number of things: surprise, dissent, happiness. Copyright 2023 KAIT. However, the first President to move to Washington was John Adams on 1 November 1800. 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. Get help and learn more about the design. 'Cause everything's fine, God, I wish it were . Cookies and privacy 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.".

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