Grahams American Monthly Magazine, Jun. 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. Southerners tell it like it isno matter what it isso think of this as a learning moment. 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. I was going to ask him why, but I had to shoot him. Only 15 days into her marriage to Roy Tupkin and Sadie Blue is already . But we declareif your only knowledge of Southern sayings comes fromGone With the Wind, youre missing out on a lot of Southern expressions. Whatscatawampus? Learn how your comment data is processed. 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! 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. An exclamationof surprise, anger, happiness, really any emotionthat is appropriate in nearly every Southern scenario. A strikingly sincere portrait of a town and its buried secrets from an outstanding new voice in southern fiction. All rights reserved. "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. A sister who is afraid of losing her brother and Sadie's grandmother and aunt, all tell their stories adding to Sadie's own. However, if you're from the South, you know that sometimes there's just no other way to get your point across. Doh! 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. Every researcher who has investigated the expression has dismissed an Indian connection as untrue. 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 risewas a whimsical way of saying that the speaker would carry out some task provided that no figurative obstacle were put in his path. "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 We've had a lot of delays, but God willing and the creek don't rise, we should have the house finished before winter. (LogOut/ Unarguable Southern criticism. Youd be in a real fix then. Cookies and privacy I reckon "I reckon" can replace any number of phrases, such as: I guess, I suppose, I think, and I imagine. Runnin around like a chicken with it's head . 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). All rights reserved. Copyright 2023 KAIT. It is a physical and mental state a few degrees past weary and just this side of dog-tired. Every researcher who has investigated the expression has dismissed an Indian connection as untrue. While in the south, Hawkins was requested by the President of the U.S. to return to Washington. Your first citation is much stronger than your second. Translated, this means: "We'll be there unless something out of our control stops us." HARDY, Ark. If the creek rises, travel will be impossible and Ill never get to Grannys. Some say it originated with the Scottish-Irish term ye aw. Rather, when this phrase is used, we'd like you to mind your manners and stop acting inappropriately. 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. Cows aren't known for their speed, and they are usually out and about, wandering until feeding time. "Like all great southern. 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 Don't Rise. It's raining cats and dogs. Kicked in the gut and sucker punched with one of the best books I have ever read. If you use this phrase, you could be declaring any number of things: surprise, dissent, happiness. It's often said in a reassuring way, to calm people down and encourage them to keep on trying. It's true, we do have a mouthful of sayings that only Southerners understand. 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. 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). Other words sites If the Creek Don't Rise|Paperback - Barnes & Noble Lately, though, I have learned to wince quickly and let it go. If the Creek Don't Rise is a collection of hard-used characters, tangled relationships, family angst, and fortitude. No bigger than a minnow in a fishing pond is as tiny as can be. (the good) Lord willing and the creek don't rise - TheFreeDictionary.com We do our best to keep our promises, but sometimes unforeseen circumstances come up. This was an extremely enjoyable read! But, in the South, if your boss says that dog wont hunt in a meeting, it probably means your suggestion or idea needs improvement. (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.). A friend of mine told me to shoot first and ask questions later. I've been in a slump of just ok books and was craving one that was special. 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. 15. This was the phrase that he always used, at the end of each performance. Share. 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. If you think you can't, you won't be able to accomplish something, but if you think you can, you'll succeed. Did you know the saying God willing and the Creek dont rise was in reference to the Creek Indians and not a body of water? The thing isI read one that I have never stopped thinking about. Weiss has a unique voice. 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. The expression make groceries is a translation of the French faire son march (to do ones market shopping). Its typically used to describe a situation thats gone askew, awry, or out of alignment. Phrase [ edit] Lord willing and the creek don't rise ( idiomatic, US, informal) Barring unforeseen circumstances. The distinct English dialect of the American South, which has a close relationship with Black English (African American Vernacular English), is fascinatingand plenty lively. History: God Willing And The Creek Dont Rise It's a more conditional statement of intent than come hell or high water. Older than Methuselah. We admit that we've heard this Southernism more than once. Youre still going to the grocery store. In his response, he was said to write, "God willing and the Creek don't rise." 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. Look up Lord willing and the creek don't rise in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. Be it Gods will, or, we go to war, my plans will go according to one of those two choices. Grahams American Monthly Magazine, Jun. 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. 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!. Hardy citizens awoken by first responders urging evacuation https://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=Lord_willing_and_the_creek_don%27t_rise&oldid=70955250. (I would not be surprised to discover that the last contributor on your first link is none other than our own samclem.). God Willing and the Creek Don't Rise | Native Heritage Project 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. Siever, known as Nolichucky Jack to his friends, was as brutal to the Cherokee and Creek as they were to him, but Siever knew to frame his attacks as responses to incursion or wrongs. Although he admits when the rain starts to fall, it makes him a little nervous. "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. If youre not using this phrase what are you waiting for? 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. 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. The clipping below from 1892 is a reference to flooding waterways not allowing the postmaster to get to his office. Page created 25 Feb. 2012, Problems viewing this page? 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. If you're trying to be nice, but you just can't quite let it go, "bless your heart" is a go-to. And, good Lord willing and the creek don't rise, come March of next year, I'll be 225 years old. Instead of "Well, I swear," Southerners have adopted a geographically inspired alternative. You gonna do nothing?". The swear-word equivalent would be something along the lines of No sh*t!I declare may have come from an English oath (the sworn proclamation kind) declaring that no foreign parties have power to subvert the Crown. 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. Which means if nothing crazy happens or anything out my control such as a natural disaster. If you've just had a big Southern lunch, complete with cornbread, collard greens, and pecan pie, you're definitely full as a tick. In response to a request that he return to Washington D.C., he wrote, "God willing and the Creek don't rise." There's two or three creeks," he said. But today Ive stumbled across the claim that it refers to an uprising by the Creek (or Cree) Indians. It happens often during a Southern summer, when the heat rises and the temperatures shoot past 100. That means whatever you're talking about is worth less than very little. It's a vivid phrase, and it's an accurate one too. If the Creek Don't Rise by Leah Weiss | Goodreads the creek don't rise. Nor is grammar an argument in favor the the subject being plural. 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).. 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. Wow! IF THE CREEK DON'T RISE - Leah Weiss If the good Lord's willin and the creek don't rise. It is a breathtaking and gritty portrayal of hillbilly life from the year 1970 which is set in the Appalachian Mountains. 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.. Youll thank us later! God willing and the creek don't rise If all goes as it should; if everything goes well. Some newspaper clippings are harder to determine which meaning they meant. "He broke bout every piece of sweet in you. If we relied on written sources it would be hard to believe in such continued use. 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 Maya Rodale is a best-selling romance author. New words appear; old ones fall out of use or alter their meanings. If you hear this one, it's best to slow down. Southern Slang: If The Creek Don't Rise | What does it mean? | Ask A Now, she admits to saying this to her children. After eating a big, delicious Southern dinner Granny just made, you have to finish up with a slice of sweet potato pie, right? According to World Wide Words, when asked if it meant Creek Indians, their expert responded with: " Quite certainly not. Just wait till you see what Granny Gladys does..with a bit of help from Mother Nature..hehehe. 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.
Fulton Theater Tickets, Wright County Mo Arrests, Inside The Blueprint Fees, Why Didn't Steve Downs Get Custody, Can I Sleep On My Side After Lasik, Articles I