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. He would tell the audience that we would meet again, "If the good Lord's willin', and the creek don't rise". DeSantis's year-long quest to strip Disney of its self-rule came after the entertainment giant, and Florida's . A Quite certainly not. Older than Methuselah. Jan 29, 2014 at 19:34 . 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. "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]. Dont worry, if youre helping a friend make groceries, youre not expected to create food from scratch. This was the phrase that he always used, at the end of each performance. Pot callin the kettle black. It completely nailed the "mountain living" that I remembered my grandmother talking about. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. He told us about a young man who had been in the museum some weeks previous. It may take the form of real or mock dialect, in variations like " Lor' willin' an' th' crick don' rise.". If you hear this one, it's best to slow down. 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. It is a paraphrase of a popular biblical saying from James 4:15, and while there are scores of citations to the phrase in the sense of the waters rising, in the US and Europe, there is not one shred of evidence of a reference to the Creek nation. Then theres a long gap in the record before it began to appear again in the 1950s. Other words sites The Creek were a tribe of Native Americans (indians) who would ambush people who were traveling West. 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. Page created 25 Feb. 2012, Problems viewing this page? Your email address will not be published. What Do Shrove Tuesday, Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday, And Lent Mean? A: "Do you reckon we'll have enough from this harvest to make ends meet?" An exclamationof surprise, anger, happiness, really any emotionthat is appropriate in nearly every Southern scenario. However, if you're from the South, you know that sometimes there's just no other way to get your point across. As was the case with Dr Mattox, the remark is routinely attributed to first being said by Benjamin Hawkins. Positive thinking, Southern style. The catchphrase itself was associated with Hank Williams. Some newspaper clippings are harder to determine which meaning they meant. Ireckon is the way many Southerners get to surmising about something or other. Following that treaty John Siever formed the state of Franklin from land previously claimed by North Carolina but never ceded by the Indian tribes. If you find only minnows, though, they look even smaller compared to the heavy catch you hoped for. 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. 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. 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. Paperback, 305 pages. Its not a recent change. However, the first President to move to Washington was John Adams on 1 November 1800. I was surprised as all get out. Affixes dictionary. You may still hear it if you stop into a country store. Werefixin to tell you more Southernisms, and now were doing just that. Apparently Carter had a great many pills, because the phrase found its way into the Southern vocabulary. When the road looks rough ahead, remember the 'Man upstairs'. Your first citation is much stronger than your second. Over yonder down the road. A rising creek could spell trouble, as it can lead to flooding and other issues. "Like all great southern. "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." You might say cocola. It is a physical and mental state a few degrees past weary and just this side of dog-tired. 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. Over yonder past the cotton field. We didnt. 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. Or, depending on where you live, it could be Sewanee, the small college town in Tennessee. All rights reserved. Yelling out this humorous backronym for sh*tmight just tame the anger a bit. 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. Its worth looking into because of the way in which it has been elaborated in the version you quote.. But I know of just four instances from that century. I absolutely loved the southern voice of these characters throughout this book. While in the south, Hawkins was requested by the President of the U.S. to return to Washington. Only 15 days into her marriage to Roy Tupkin and Sadie Blue is already . "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." Unarguable Southern criticism. And I have used this page's title often-feeling quite sure I knew exactly what it meant. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Positive thinking, Southern style. This string of double negatives is actually meant as encouragement! A true Southern tradition. The Lafayette gazette(Louisiana), 3 Nov. 1894. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. 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. It was so enjoyable and fun reading and discussing the book with them. Thats exactly who I was hoping would reply to my question. Someone kicked in with we say cricks. If we relied on written sources it would be hard to believe in such continued use. Its especially difficult for people that live south of River Road and some of them that live in Woodland Hills. Like trying to meet a friend for lunch but having the car breakdown on the way. In the 1900s, the word evolved, taking on a Southern spin as well as new meanings such as "courage" and "get-up-and-go.". You Cant Use These English Words In The UK, Understanding Black History: 10 Terms That Illuminate The Black Experience In The US. If you hear this one, you should probably pause a moment. Which means if nothing crazy happens or anything out my control such as a natural disaster. Im told it was a sign-off tag line of the 1930s US radio broadcaster Bradley Kincaid. by Leah Weiss. According to World Wide Words, when asked if it meant Creek Indians, their expert responded with: Quite certainly not. Georgia-born blogger Jennifer Collins says she always rolled her eyes when her mom said this to her. Instead of "Well, I swear," Southerners have adopted a geographically inspired alternative. (LogOut/ Lyndon Johnsons wife Lady Bird was fond of the phrase, and she wasnt one to cast aspersions on native Americans. Baines Creek is a small remote mountain settlement in North Carolina where many can't read, education is unheard of and catastrophic poverty is the norm. This was an extremely enjoyable read! Well, I found it. 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.. The second contributor on the AOL site is simply repeating things without any understanding. Well, at least we thought we did.but maybe not. It turns out that the phrase was written by Benjamin Hawkins in the late 18th century. 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. And, good Lord willing and the creek don't rise, come March of next year, I'll be 225 years old. 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. Phrase [ edit] Lord willing and the creek don't rise ( idiomatic, US, informal) Barring unforeseen circumstances. A friend of mine told me to shoot first and ask questions later. What Grandma says when you pull in the driveway, pop out of the car, and come running. The written record dates the saying from about the middle of the nineteenth century. Southerners adopted this phrase wholeheartedly from its early usages in 1700s England and Scotland (where it meant "common sense"). Just wait till you see what Granny Gladys does..with a bit of help from Mother Nature..hehehe. 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. While this phrase may sound made up, it's simply our multisyllabic manner of saying something is askew. Not one shred of evidence is a clear invitation to fault the writer. We do our best to keep our promises, but sometimes unforeseen circumstances come up. Cookies and privacy Two years after the signing of the treaty, Benjamin Hawkins died at the site known as Old Agency. Southerners tell it like it isno matter what it isso think of this as a learning moment. An odd few (6% of Americans) do use soft drink, according to the Pop vs. 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 rose, Hawkins would have to be present to quell the rebellion. writes one commentator.. Poor little doggy. 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. Stop right there! In fact, Georgia and South Carolina produce more peaches than any other states in the South. and the word HOPE. This was a Traveling Sister Read with Brenda, Sarah, Jennifer and Porshajo. This article about the English language is a stub. I was going to ask him why, but I had to shoot him. There is a lot of controversy about this fairly common folk saying. [1][2], Classic versions of its use tend to be along the lines of "The good Lord willing, and the creek doesn't rise"i.e. Well, hells bells. If the Creek Don't Rise Quotes Showing 1-14 of 14 "Times like these I wonder if I ever been happy. And yes, I have heard the music of this culture and watched the dancing. If you're trying to be nice, but you just can't quite let it go, "bless your heart" is a go-to. "He broke bout every piece of sweet in you. I ate that up with a spoon and did my best to read them all. 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. The only requirement is that you declare it loud and proud. 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. Can't Never Could. 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. And yes, they roll their eyes, too. 15. This string of double negatives is actually meant as encouragement! Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. It was bad as all get out. 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. Now, she admits to saying this to her children. It's a more conditional statement of intent than come hell or high water. The expression make groceries is a translation of the French faire son march (to do ones market shopping). Select your currency from the list and click Donate. 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. This page was last edited on 17 January 2023, at 01:18. 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. 'Cause everything's fine, God, I wish it were . Youll thank us later! Devil's beating his wife (when it would be sunny and raining). Andrew Jackson sent a request for reinforcements before the Battle Of New Orleans. There, we listened to amazing stories told by Dr. John Mattox. 24 of 30. purchase. 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. Rather, when this phrase is used, we'd like you to mind your manners and stop acting inappropriately. This one originates from the 19th century, when Carter Products marketed "Little Liver Pills" across the country. The expression "the creek don't rise" is an American slang expression implying strong intentions subject to complete frustration by uncommon but not unforeseeable events. There is no typical Southern accent. When you're exhausted in an I'm-so-beat-I-can't-go-on kind of way, you're definitely worn slap out. According to World Wide Words, when asked if it meant Creek Indians, their expert responded with: " Quite certainly not. 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. It's often said in a reassuring way, to calm people down and encourage them to keep on trying. 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. 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. It can be summarised as if all goes well. It can be summarised as "if all goes well". If so, you know that being madder than a wet hen is very mad indeed. 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. Curiously, this word might have roots in offbeat British humor from the 1840s. The tale is widely reproduced and believed nevertheless. Translated, this means: "We'll be there unless something out of our control stops us." Funny Phrases ben stanczyk 10/25/01 Every researcher who has investigated the expression has dismissed an Indian connection as untrue. Is It Called Presidents Day Or Washingtons Birthday? Marty Stuart places the words "If the Good Lord's willin' and the creek don't rise, we'll see you in the mornin'." You gonna do nothing?". Synonyms [ edit] (barring unforeseen circumstances): God willing, Lord willing Translations [ edit] show phrase References [ edit] Its a one-size-fits-all reply that can both express sympathy and insult someone, depending on the delivery. Note that the Creek Nation(s) did not rise at all. The thing isI read one that I have never stopped thinking about. The distinct English dialect of the American South, which has a close relationship with Black English (African American Vernacular English), is fascinatingand plenty lively. 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.