To cover your bases you might say, "I'll see you then if the creek don't rise." While there, we happened upon a museum dedicated to the Underground Railroad. Any of you word experts have solid information? In fact, Georgia and South Carolina produce more peaches than any other states in the South. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. 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. All rights reserved. If you hear this one, you should probably pause a moment. Yelling out this humorous backronym for sh*tmight just tame the anger a bit. He told us about a young man who had been in the museum some weeks previous. 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. Your email address will not be published. It turns out that the phrase was written by Benjamin Hawkins in the late 18th century. 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. 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. Pot callin the kettle black. 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. 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. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Georgia-born blogger Jennifer Collins says she always rolled her eyes when her mom said this to her. However, if you're from the South, you know that sometimes there's just no other way to get your point across. Who better to write about the risks of the Creek rising in revolt? In the Deep South? 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. 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. 1851. Your email address will not be published. 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. It happens often during a Southern summer, when the heat rises and the temperatures shoot past 100. 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. IF THE CREEK DON'T RISE is character driven and one fine gritty and entertaining debut with one fine satisfying ending! The second contributor on the AOL site is simply repeating things without any understanding. Grandma might whisper this one over her hymnal if she sees you cutting up in church on Sunday morning. Here are a couple of examples of this claim. The tale is widely reproduced and believed nevertheless. Anything to the degree of "all get out" is something to talk about. If so, you know that being madder than a wet hen is very mad indeed. A multipurpose Southernism. And this is one appearance in a newspaper: 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. She's not looking for sweets; she wants a hug and a kiss. You may still hear it if you stop into a country store. A rising creek could spell trouble, as it can lead to flooding and other issues. If you just heard your mama come home and you haven't finished your chores, she will definitely be "madder than a wet hen." Just wait till you see what Granny Gladys does..with a bit of help from Mother Nature..hehehe. Maybe not all dogs were made for hunting some prefer the warmth of a fireplace and the comfort of your lap. In his reply, he was said to have written, God willing and the Creek dont rise. Feller-citizens Im not customed to public speakin before sich highfalutin audiences. And really, wouldn't we all druther have our druthers? Although he admits when the rain starts to fall, it makes him a little nervous. https://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=Lord_willing_and_the_creek_don%27t_rise&oldid=70955250. The first big battles in the Creek War were, indeed, attacks on white settlements, but it was not a matter of an uprising that threatened settlers, rather it was an outbreak of war between two armed groups in which whites and Indians sought each other out. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. 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. Southerners tell it like it isno matter what it isso think of this as a learning moment. Thats exactly who I was hoping would reply to my question. A true Southern tradition. (KAIT) - Its been a busy 24 hours for first responders in Sharp County. Unarguable Southern criticism. A preacher who hires a very different kind of woman than is usually found in these parts. This United Statesrelated article is a stub. Baines Creek, high up in the Appalachian mountain, a poor place filled with impoverished people, a place where moonshine is king. Is this derivation correct? The written record dates the saying from about the middle of the nineteenth century. No, we don't mean you need to go fix your hair. A young woman goes missing and has the town both fearful and wondering. The nabbit, gonnit, gummit, blasted, and burnit match the rhythm of damn it, but they can easily be modified for use as an adjective or adverb: That dagnab idiot didnt look to the dadgum left and, dadburnit, he crossed over in my dadblasted lane and dadburn near hit me. When used as a stand-alone oath, hold out on the first syllable and accentuate the second: DaaadGUMMit! I am feeling culture shock from reading this book. Therefore if the Lord is willing and the Creek don't rise up and start up another uprising or battle, we will be able complete what ever it is we intend to do. "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." It can also be the opening to striking a bargain, sharing a strongly held opinion, or offering a piece of advice you may or may not want to hear. 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. Learn how your comment data is processed. This one originates from the 19th century, when Carter Products marketed "Little Liver Pills" across the country. There is no reason to suppose the Indian variant is true. Where did this contraction, popular in both African American English and Southern American English, come from? 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. It is sometimes thought that the word "Creek" instead refers to the Creek Indians, but this is unlikely. 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. Lyndon Johnsons wife Lady Bird was fond of the phrase, and she wasnt one to cast aspersions on native Americans. In his response, he was said to write, "God willing and the Creek don't rise." Instead of "Well, I swear," Southerners have adopted a geographically inspired alternative. DeSantis's year-long quest to strip Disney of its self-rule came after the entertainment giant, and Florida's . Following that treaty John Siever formed the state of Franklin from land previously claimed by North Carolina but never ceded by the Indian tribes. Tensions between settlers and both tribes had been rising following the Treaty of Augusta and the land cessions of 1782-1783. 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. The approximately 20,000 Creek Indians that still exist reside in Oklahoma. When you've met the girl of your dreams, chances are she is "pretty as a peach." She captures the whole Appalachian scene - the vocabulary, the falling down houses, the likker, the poverty. Now, she admits to saying this to her children. 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. 132 Copy quote. Its especially difficult for people that live south of River Road and some of them that live in Woodland Hills. "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." "Lord willing and the creek don't rise" is a sort of backwoods phrase that has the same meaning, but is more folksy and less devoted. Now, she admits to saying this to her children. 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.. Wow! It's raining cats and dogs. The catchphrase itself was associated with Hank Williams. All rights reserved. A very young, newly married pregnant woman, she vows her no good moonshining husband has beaten her for the last time. 1851. You Cant Use These English Words In The UK, Understanding Black History: 10 Terms That Illuminate The Black Experience In The US. It mentions . An odd few (6% of Americans) do use soft drink, according to the Pop vs. 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.. 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. In other words, Ill make it to Grandmas if the indians dont go on the warpath. And, when the doins been done, the feller done did it. What Grandma says when you pull in the driveway, pop out of the car, and come running. 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. It turns out that the phrase was written by Benjamin Hawkins in the late 18th century. I first heard of the notion of creek meaning Creek on a camping trip a couple of years ago at Barkcamp State Park in the area of Wheeling, WV. Stop right there! The Creek were a tribe of Native Americans (indians) who would ambush people who were traveling West. I was just hoping for something more concrete about the real origin. I am usually among those who bristle at change in usage. 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. Firsts, Mines, Asks. 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. "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. (Or maybe the Piggly Wiggly, a Southern market chain that originated in Memphis, Tennessee). 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. 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! HARDY, Ark. A Quite certainly not. It has been noted that the phrase should be correctly written as God willing and the Creek dont rise. Like trying to meet a friend for lunch but having the car breakdown on the way. "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. Origin debaters point to Col. Benjamin Hawkins of North Carolina, a Continental Congress senator. Wheres my blasted phone?. Copyright 2023 KAIT. Someone once said that when you visit the South, you need a translator. This article about the English language is a stub. Come visit me at LeahWeiss.com where you can subscribe to my CREEKRISE author news. You dont know whats underneath that water, Rose said. 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. This is a high compliment in the South, since Southern states are known for their peaches. 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. "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." It was set in the Ozark mountains featuring what some people called a witch. Let me love you again, give me one more try. Cookies and privacy 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). When I was growing up, this was something we said all of the time. Grahams American Monthly Magazine, Jun. This Southern saying, God Willing and the Creek Don't Rise. Doh! And I mean took me there! Take a look here Michael: http://www.genealogynation.com/creek/. The phrase may be accompanied by a gesture indicating north, south, east, or west. Over yonder past the cotton field. Though youre likely to hear Southernisms such as. 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. 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. Nor is grammar an argument in favor the the subject being plural. 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. Translated, this means: "We'll be there unless something out of our control stops us." If we relied on written sources it would be hard to believe in such continued use. The clipping below from 1892 is a reference to flooding waterways not allowing the postmaster to get to his office. In the 1900s, the word evolved, taking on a Southern spin as well as new meanings such as "courage" and "get-up-and-go.". Positive thinking, Southern style. Theres two or three creeks, he said. If you think you can't, you won't be able to accomplish something, but if you think you can, you'll succeed. 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 road looks rough ahead, remember the 'Man upstairs'. But in following verses the rhyme changes through "creeks don't rise", "creek stay low", back to "creeks don't rise". It mentions Benjamin Hawkins of the late 18th century, who was asked by the US president to go back to Washington. I doubt it will ever be possible to prove the source of some of these old sayings,but they sure are alot of funThis post set me a thinkin bout some things we grew up saying that we took from our eldersfor example when one is astonished you say Oh my Stars! Or when you havent seen someone in awhile you say I aint seen Hide nor Hair of em since..and there was plenty of times I was toldquit rootin around an causin such a ruckass!usually refering to me being in Granmas gardenand one can never forget the simpleSkeedaddle! Now the devil may knowWhere those sayings come from. in Williams' mouth in his tribute album Hillbilly Heaven. We've had a lot of delays, but God willing and the creek don't rise, we should have the house finished before winter. Unlike the United States Postal Service, whose motto proclaims "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night" will keep them from their routes, sometimes a Southern visit is thwarted by a rising creek or other unexpected bump in the road. It's true, we do have a mouthful of sayings that only Southerners understand. What better way to sweeten the sour than with a classic Southern libation? 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 The Lafayette gazette(Louisiana), 3 Nov. 1894. 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). In Gone With the Wind, Scarlett OHara says: I do declare, Frank Kennedy, if you dont look dashing with that new set of whiskers!. 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. Someone kicked in with we say cricks. Be it Gods will, or, we go to war, my plans will go according to one of those two choices. 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. 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. Weiss has a unique voice. There, we listened to amazing stories told by Dr. John Mattox. 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.". God willing and the creek don't rise If all goes as it should; if everything goes well. Youd be in a real fix then. (Yes, it is terrible grammar, but that is how it is said. Look up Lord willing and the creek don't rise in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. If the Creek Don't Rise Quotes Showing 1-14 of 14 "Times like these I wonder if I ever been happy. In his experience, it doesnt take much for local creeks and streams to cause trouble. Do You Know These Sizzlin Southern Sayings. Someone reminded me not to be reminded of you. Throughout the years, through these floods, weve had several roads that have washed completely out, so you just dont know whats down there.. 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. "If the Creek Don't Rise" We'll be there unless something out of our control stops us. In fact, virtually all the examples that Ive found in books and newspaper archives down to the present day are in lower-case. However, with the west in flames, both whites and Indians began organizing fighters. 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. The 1800s and 1900s were much simpler times, as people didn't have the luxuries afforded in modern times. He would tell the audience that we would meet again, "If the good Lord's willin', and the creek don't rise". And of course, there's nothing prettier than a warm summer day picking peaches in the sunshine. I grew up with that saying and Ive said it more times than I can count. This is a point of emphasis and exclamation that often ends without any additional telling at all. Your first citation is much stronger than your second. 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. [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. Thats a mouthful, but we lumped these all together because they are allsubstitutes for (God) d*mn it. Faire can mean both do and make. This phrase entered the Southern vernacular via Louisiana and is in regular use in the New Orleans area. 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