Pros And Cons Of Using Silver Nitrate Fingerprinting, Articles I

On his deathbed he married the Creek woman who had been his common-law wife. Many thanks to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for the ARC in return for an unbiased review. However, with the west in flames, both whites and Indians began organizing fighters. Someone kicked in with we say cricks. Gumption is spirit, courage, spunk, boldness, and initiative. "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. It was a big old chunk of a book, so only a couple of the kids including myself read it. 24 of 30. If you find only minnows, though, they look even smaller compared to the heavy catch you hoped for. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Threats not only from abroad, but internally as well, forced the fledgling nation to negotiate treaties with the tribes on the western frontier. 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. Now, she admits to saying this to her children. A: "Do you reckon we'll have enough from this harvest to make ends meet?" You dont know whats underneath that water, Rose said. 'Cause everything's fine, God, I wish it were . Where did this contraction, popular in both African American English and Southern American English, come from? In his reply, he was said to have written, God willing and the Creek dont rise. Accents vary by regionand sometimes even city to city. 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.. on, This page was last edited on 22 January 2022, at 17:42. The Creek were a tribe of Native Americans (indians) who would ambush people who were traveling West. 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. He would tell the audience that we would meet again, "If the good Lord's willin', and the creek don't rise". Her grandmother Gladys tells us of her awful past ridden with the drunkenness and senseless abuse. A true Southern tradition. A very young, newly married pregnant woman, she vows her no good moonshining husband has beaten her for the last time. Cows aren't known for their speed, and they are usually out and about, wandering until feeding time. They had a conversation in which the phrase was discussed and noted as being about the Creek Indians. Note that the Creek Nation(s) did not "rise" at all. Have you ever seen a wet hen? In the South, a hill of beans is its own measuring stick. 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. Synonyms [ edit] (barring unforeseen circumstances): God willing, Lord willing Translations [ edit] show phrase References [ edit] 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. Change). While in the south, Hawkins was requested by the President of the U.S. to return to Washington. Which means if nothing crazy happens or anything out my control such as a natural disaster. As was the case with Dr Mattox, the remark is routinely attributed to first being said by Benjamin Hawkins. Every researcher who has investigated the expression has dismissed an Indian connection as untrue. False folk etymology. After eating a big, delicious Southern dinner Granny just made, you have to finish up with a slice of sweet potato pie, right? Curiously, this word might have roots in offbeat British humor from the 1840s. 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 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. Now, she admits to saying this to her children. 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. When a fellers fixin to do something, theyre about to do it. 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. New words appear; old ones fall out of use or alter their meanings. I was just hoping for something more concrete about the real origin. Though youre likely to hear Southernisms such as hold your horses and pretty as a peach nationwide, youll likely only hear the following from a true Southerner. Here are a couple of examples of this claim. Take a look at some of our favorite Southern sayings that we just couldn't live without. 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). The New Madrid earthquake (reputedly the largest in recorded history in North America) created the division between traditionalist Creek (Red Sticks) and those more willing to seek accommodation with the majority of the tribe. I see said the blind man to his deaf wife. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. [3] The capitalization of the word Creek supposedly referred to the Creek Indian tribe rather than a body of water.[4][5]. Andrew Jackson sent a request for reinforcements before the Battle Of New Orleans. What Grandma says when you pull in the driveway, pop out of the car, and come running. Copyright Michael Quinion, 1996. Your email address will not be published. The tale is widely reproduced and believed nevertheless. "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. purchase. 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. Variants substitute "God" or "Good Lord" (with or without "the") for "Lord", and substitute "crick" or "river" for "creek", or capitalize it as "Creek" or "Creeks" based on confusion with the Creek Indian tribe. 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. Look up Lord willing and the creek don't rise in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. "Well I s'wanee" evokes the Southern Suwannee River. However, this is clearly one of those evolving language cases. Learn how your comment data is processed. This Southern saying, God Willing and the Creek Don't Rise. 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. Tensions between settlers and both tribes had been rising following the Treaty of Augusta and the land cessions of 1782-1783. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Youre still going to the grocery store. A sister who is afraid of losing her brother and Sadie's grandmother and aunt, all tell their stories adding to Sadie's own. I'm fixin' to tell you that this phrase is as Southern as sweet tea. If the creek rises, travel will be impossible and Ill never get to Grannys. 4.5 stars! Im told it was a sign-off tag line of the 1930s US radio broadcaster Bradley Kincaid. It is a physical and mental state a few degrees past weary and just this side of dog-tired. You Cant Use These English Words In The UK, Understanding Black History: 10 Terms That Illuminate The Black Experience In The US. 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. DeSantis ends Disney's free reign over Florida's "Don't Say Gay" bill. This book reminds me of that. Yelling out this humorous backronym for sh*tmight just tame the anger a bit. 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. And, good Lord willing and the creek don't rise, come March of next year, I'll be 225 years old. Doh! 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). Required fields are marked *. Rather, when this phrase is used, we'd like you to mind your manners and stop acting inappropriately. A strikingly sincere portrait of a town and its buried secrets from an outstanding new voice in southern fiction. The distinct English dialect of the American South, which has a close relationship with Black English (African American Vernacular English), is fascinatingand plenty lively. Well, hells bells. 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 his response, he was said to write, "God willing and the Creek don't rise." 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. Chief Rose is asking drivers to be cautious while out and about. Throughout the years, through these floods, weve had several roads that have washed completely out, so you just dont know whats down there.. 133 Copy quote. Grandma might whisper this one over her hymnal if she sees you cutting up in church on Sunday morning. 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. Donate via PayPal. But today Ive stumbled across the claim that it refers to an uprising by the Creek (or Cree) Indians. the creek don't rise. And yes, they roll their eyes, too. God willing and the creek don't rise If all goes as it should; if everything goes well. by Leah Weiss. Or, depending on where you live, it could be Sewanee, the small college town in Tennessee. Cookies and privacy While in the south, Hawkins was requested by the President of the U.S. to return to Washington. In the Deep South? 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. According to World Wide Words, when asked if it meant Creek Indians, their expert responded with: Quite certainly not. It may take the form of real or mock dialect, in variations like " Lor' willin' an' th' crick don' rise.". This string of double negatives is actually meant as encouragement! This string of double negatives is actually meant as encouragement! All rights reserved. This phrase can be intensified by the addition of the word "way," as in "way over yonder.". 15. This one originates from the 19th century, when Carter Products marketed "Little Liver Pills" across the country. She captures the whole Appalachian scene - the vocabulary, the falling down houses, the likker, the poverty. The approximately 20,000 Creek Indians that still exist reside in Oklahoma. (Im terrible about reading usernames as I scan threads, and I completely missed who had contributed that comment.). Funny Phrases ben stanczyk 10/25/01 The grit and darkness don't just belong to Sadie, though. from The New York Times: And, good Lord willing and the creek don't rise, come March of next year, I'll be 70 years old. 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. There's two or three creeks," he said. A rising creek could spell trouble, as it can lead to flooding and other issues. The doin hasnt been done yet. When I was growing up, this was something we said all of the time. 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. When you're exhausted in an I'm-so-beat-I-can't-go-on kind of way, you're definitely worn slap out. Turn around, and please dont drive through it. No, we don't mean you need to go fix your hair. If the Creek rose, Hawkins would have to be present to quell the rebellion. writes one commentator.. The Cree and the Creek lived over a thousand miles apart, (the Cree are from Canada), so we now have people contributing folk etymologies that are nonsense on their face. [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. I've been in a slump of just ok books and was craving one that was special. It can be summarised as "if all goes well". Does a bear shit in the woods? 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. Youd be in a real fix then. The 1800s and 1900s were much simpler times, as people didn't have the luxuries afforded in modern times. Pot callin the kettle black. Most of the ones on paved roads had bridges or culverts by that time, but not all of them and everyone still clearly knew what that saying meant even if the threat wasnt very real anymore. If you hear this one, it's best to slow down. Yes, I had heard of the Appalachians and how the culture spreads along those mountains over more than a dozen States. While there, we happened upon a museum dedicated to the Underground Railroad. 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. It's raining cats and dogs. When you've met the girl of your dreams, chances are she is "pretty as a peach." 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's true, we do have a mouthful of sayings that only Southerners understand. The phrase may be accompanied by a gesture indicating north, south, east, or west. I've never forgotten it and it's drove me nuts because I would love a copy of it. Hang onto both and 'tough it out'. It's often said in a reassuring way, to calm people down and encourage them to keep on trying. Grahams American Monthly Magazine, Jun. 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. DeSantis's year-long quest to strip Disney of its self-rule came after the entertainment giant, and Florida's . "He broke bout every piece of sweet in you. Poor little doggy. Devil's beating his wife (when it would be sunny and raining). This page was last edited on 17 January 2023, at 01:18. I will be at church on Sunday. However, if you're from the South, you know that sometimes there's just no other way to get your point across. But, what we do know is English once used you and ye strictly to address a group of people. 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! Catawampus(or, cattywampus) may have been popularized by Brits who delighted in parodying Southern vernacular. 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. The request was to a general that had troops near Horseshoe Bend Alabama, protecting settlers against a Creek Indian uprising. A young woman goes missing and has the town both fearful and wondering. It was bad as all get out. This United Statesrelated article is a stub. 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. Is this derivation correct? It completely nailed the "mountain living" that I remembered my grandmother talking about. The catchphrase itself was associated with Hank Williams. I reckon "I reckon" can replace any number of phrases, such as: I guess, I suppose, I think, and I imagine. 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. If you use this phrase, you could be declaring any number of things: surprise, dissent, happiness. It is sometimes thought that the word "Creek" instead refers to the Creek Indians, but this is unlikely. 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. 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. If you're trying to be nice, but you just can't quite let it go, "bless your heart" is a go-to. "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." 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? (I would not be surprised to discover that the last contributor on your first link is none other than our own samclem.). Its typically used to describe a situation thats gone askew, awry, or out of alignment. Two years after the signing of the treaty, Benjamin Hawkins died at the site known as Old Agency. To understand Hawkins, I read a little further into his history. Some say farmers used to dunk their hens when they got broody. Every researcher who has investigated the expression has dismissed an Indian connection as untrue. An odd few (6% of Americans) do use soft drink, according to the Pop vs. Someone once said that when you visit the South, you need a translator. 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. (Or maybe the Piggly Wiggly, a Southern market chain that originated in Memphis, Tennessee). If you hear this one, you should probably pause a moment. Nor is grammar an argument in favor the the subject being plural. Runnin around like a chicken with it's head . Actually this is not proven. The Lafayette gazette(Louisiana), 3 Nov. 1894. The most interesting often hail from our older generations, such as the WWII era and those raised by them. Come visit me at LeahWeiss.com where you can subscribe to my CREEKRISE author news. When you're in the South, "over yonder" is a distant directionany direction. All rights reserved.This page URL: http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-god1.htmLast modified: 25 February 2012. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 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. The second contributor on the AOL site is simply repeating things without any understanding. The earliest example known is this mock rustic speech: Feller-citizens Im not customed to public speakin before sich highfalutin audiences. "Creek" originated as a reference to creeks flooding and preventing travel, but is sometimes re-interpreted as a reference to the Creek tribe. The resulting warfare and predictable civilian losses in the South reportedly gave rise (using the Southern frontier penchant for willin as opposed to the educated willing) to the phrase which was then likely mistakenly attributed to Hawkins due to his Native American connections. We admit that we've heard this Southernism more than once. Like trying to meet a friend for lunch but having the car breakdown on the way. From the present day of the story in 1970 to flashbacks of the past and dreams, these various points of view give us a vivid picture of this place and the people who live there. 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. 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. 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. 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. (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.). And I have used this page's title often-feeling quite sure I knew exactly what it meant. 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. Somehow, the word went full circle and is now considered a distinctly Southern invention. 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. 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. (the good) Lord willing and the creek don't rise rural If all goes as it should; if everything goes well. Paperback, 305 pages. Learn how your comment data is processed. Instead of "Well, I swear," Southerners have adopted a geographically inspired alternative. Copy furnished by Net Galley for the price of a review. When the road looks rough ahead, remember the 'Man upstairs'. 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. The expression make groceries is a translation of the French faire son march (to do ones market shopping). Wow! (LogOut/ 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. 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. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. My officers and fire department, we went along the river houses and notified everybody and recommended evacuation, said Hardy Police Chief Scott Rose. There is no reason to suppose the Indian variant is true. Neither provides any documentation: http://pub122.ezboard.com/fwordoriginsorgfrm2.showMessage?topicID=191.topic, http://members.aol.com/MorelandC/HaveOriginsData.htm#LordWillingAndTheCreek. 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.". Origin debaters point to Col. Benjamin Hawkins of North Carolina, a Continental Congress senator. 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. But I know of just four instances from that century. Eventually, you became a singular pronoun, and we lost the plural pronouns. Other words sites Leah Weiss introduces her extraordinary characters as chapters unfold and each one has their own peculiarity. It happens often during a Southern summer, when the heat rises and the temperatures shoot past 100. Werefixin to tell you more Southernisms, and now were doing just that. Because that is supposedly how the original author first wrote it. Some newspaper clippings are harder to determine which meaning they meant. 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. Historically, Southerners in the Appalachian mountains pronounced eternal as tarnal. That pronunciation suggests a clever word-smoosh between tarnal and damnation, so the savvy Appalachians could euphemistically express their anger without wasting an extra breath. In fact, virtually all the examples that Ive found in books and newspaper archives down to the present day are in lower-case. Apparently Carter had a great many pills, because the phrase found its way into the Southern vocabulary. Over yonder down the road. What better way to sweeten the sour than with a classic Southern libation? 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. World Wide Words is copyright Michael Quinion, 1996. The word you use for a fizzy, carbonated drink reveals a lot more about you than you know. It's almost always accompanied by a good-natured, perhaps slightly exasperated, shake of the head. Any of you word experts have solid information? 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). 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! This was a Traveling Sister Read with Brenda, Sarah, Jennifer and Porshajo. 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 . Its worth looking into because of the way in which it has been elaborated in the version you quote. 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. In other words, Ill make it to Grandmas if the indians dont go on the warpath. Used in a sentence - If the creek don't rise and God's willing, you should be able to see this video. It's a more conditional statement of intent than come hell or high water. Its a more conditional statement of intent than come hell or high water. Following that treaty John Siever formed the state of Franklin from land previously claimed by North Carolina but never ceded by the Indian tribes. Given that many small farm streams were crossed without bridges, which worked find most of the time, a swollen stream would cause problems.