The creek don't rise

Last updated

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. It presumably evokes occasional and unpredictably extreme rainfall in Appalachia that has historically isolated rural neighborhoods and interrupted travel. [1]

The earliest documented appearance in print is the 1851 use of the phrase "Providence permittin’, and the creek don’t rise" by an uneducated but highly expressive female character in a short story in Graham's Magazine. [2]

The expression experienced a rise in popularity in the second half of the 20th century due to its use by Tennessee Ernie Ford as the sign-off for his television shows. [3]

More recently it has been claimed that the word "Creek" refers not to a geological feature but rather to the Creek Indians. [1] However, this is unlikely. [4] [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. "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." It may take the form of regional dialect, in variations like "... Lor' willin' an' th' crick don' rise."

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tennessee Ernie Ford</span> American singer and TV personality (1919–1991)

Ernest Jennings Ford, known professionally as Tennessee Ernie Ford, was an American singer and television host who enjoyed success in the country and western, pop, and gospel musical genres. Noted for his rich bass-baritone voice and down-home humor, he is remembered for his hit recordings of "The Shotgun Boogie" and "Sixteen Tons".

<i>Inshallah</i> Arabic expression meaning "if God wills" or "God willing"

Inshallah, also spelled In shaa Allah, In sha Allah, Insya Allah, and İn şa Allah, is an Arabic-language expression meaning "if God wills" or "God willing". Its use is mentioned in the Quran which required the use of it when speaking on future events. In an Islamic context, it expresses the belief that nothing happens unless God wills it, and that his will supersedes all human will; however, more generally the phrase is commonly used by Muslims, Arab Christians and Arabic speakers of other religions to refer to events that one hopes will happen in the future, having the same meaning as the English word "hopefully".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hallelujah</span> Religious interjection

Hallelujah is an interjection from the Hebrew language, used as an expression of gratitude to God. The term is used 24 times in the Tanakh, twice in deuterocanonical books, and four times in the Christian Book of Revelation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Little Feat</span> American rock band

Little Feat is an American rock band formed by lead vocalist and guitarist Lowell George, keyboardist Bill Payne, drummer Richie Hayward and bassist Roy Estrada in 1969 in Los Angeles. The band's classic line-up, in place by late 1972, comprised George, Payne, Hayward, bassist Kenny Gradney, guitarist and vocalist Paul Barrere and percussionist Sam Clayton. George disbanded the group because of creative differences shortly before his death in 1979. Surviving members re-formed Little Feat in 1987 and the band has remained active to the present.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks</span> Spike Lee production company

40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks is the production company of Spike Lee, founded in 1979. The company name is a reference to the phrase most often used to refer to the early Reconstruction period policy and episode of events, in which certain recently emancipated black families on the Georgia coast were given lots of land no larger than 40 acres (160,000 m2) and in some cases surplus army mules. The order, issued in 1865 by General Sherman as "Special Field Order 15", was later revoked by Andrew Johnson, and the land was taken away from the freed slaves and returned to previous owners. The company's logo contains a circle with the icon "40a". Later on, it used a parody of the Mark VII Limited logo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clipse</span> American hip hop duo

Clipse, also known as The Clipse, is an American hip hop duo, chiefly active from 1994 to 2010. It consists of brothers Gene "No Malice" and Terrence "Pusha T" Thornton. Pusha T was known as Terrar during the group's early years, while No Malice was originally known as Malicious, then changed his stage name to Malice soon after the group's formation, before changing it again to No Malice in 2012 following a conversion to Christianity. The duo were based in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and were heavily affiliated with producer and fellow Virginia Beach native, Pharrell Williams, who convinced the two in 1992 to be a rap duo instead of solo artists. Williams would go on to serve as their label head, main producer and frequent guest artist through most of their career. The duo frequently rapped about the drug dealing they had done in their youth. Clipse was integral in establishing Virginia as one of the East Coast's strongholds in hip hop.

<i>Lord Willin</i> 2002 studio album by Clipse

Lord Willin' is the major label debut and second studio album by hip hop duo Clipse. The album was released on August 20, 2002, in the United States by Star Trak and Arista. Recording sessions took place over a year, beginning in 2001. Production was handled by The Neptunes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greg Leisz</span> American musician

Gregory Brian Leisz is an American musician. He is a songwriter, recording artist, and producer. He plays guitar, dobro, mandolin, banjo, lap steel and pedal steel guitar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ray LaMontagne</span> American singer-songwriter

Raymond Charles Jack LaMontagne is an American singer-songwriter and musician. LaMontagne has released eight studio albums: Trouble, Till the Sun Turns Black, Gossip in the Grain, God Willin' & the Creek Don't Rise, Supernova, Ouroboros, Part of the Light, and Monovision. He was born in New Hampshire and was inspired to create music after hearing an album by Stephen Stills. Critics have compared LaMontagne's music to that of Otis Redding, Ryan Adams, Beck, Pink Floyd, The Band, Van Morrison, Nick Drake and Tim Buckley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pusha T</span> American rapper (born 1977)

Terrence LeVarr Thornton, better known by his stage name Pusha T, is an American rapper. He rose to prominence as one half of the Virginia-based hip hop duo Clipse, which he formed with his older brother No Malice. Mainly active from 1994 to 2010, the duo were discovered by Pharrell Williams and signed with his record label Star Trak Entertainment, an imprint of Arista Records in 2001. They released three studio albums—Lord Willin' (2002), Hell Hath No Fury (2006) and Til the Casket Drops (2009)—to mild commercial success; the former spawned the Billboard Hot 100-top 40 singles "Grindin'" and "When the Last Time", for which they became best known.

<i>The Almeria Club Recordings</i> 2002 studio album by Hank Williams, Jr

The Almeria Club Recordings is the forty-ninth studio album by American country music artist Hank Williams Jr. It was released on January 8, 2002, by Curb Records. He recorded most of the songs at "The Almeria Club", a club that his father, Hank Williams, recorded several songs himself. Kid Rock as well as Uncle Kracker appear on the song "The 'F' Word" giving background vocals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob's your uncle</span> British phrase

"Bob's your uncle" is a phrase commonly used in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth countries that means "and there it is", or "and there you have it", or "it's done". Typically, someone says it to conclude a set of simple instructions or when a result is reached. The meaning is similar to that of the French expression "et voilà!".

Repo Man may refer to:

"Why Don't You Love Me" is a song by American singer and guitarist Hank Williams. The song reached number one on the U.S. Country & Western chart. It was released as a single in 1950 with the B-side, "A House Without Love".

"All that glitters is not gold" is an aphorism stating that not everything that looks precious or true turns out to be so.

<i>Glen Campbell Collection</i> 2004 compilation album by Glen Campbell

Glen Campbell Collection is a compilation album by Glen Campbell released in 2004 as a double CD and consisting of hits and album tracks recorded in the sixties, seventies and nineties. It is also released on digital media by EMI Gold. Some tracks were remastered in 2001, 2002 and 2003.

<i>God Willin & the Creek Dont Rise</i> 2010 studio album by Ray LaMontagne

God Willin' & the Creek Don't Rise is singer-songwriter Ray LaMontagne's fourth full-length release, which was released on August 17, 2010.

"My Bucket's Got a Hole in It" is a song widely attributed to Clarence Williams, who obtained a copyright in 1933, although the melody was recorded under various names years earlier. The song became popular performed by Hank Williams for MGM and reached number 4 on the country chart in 1949.

"Lord willing" is a traditional English phrase related to a verse in the Epistle of James:

James 4:15 "You should say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.""

"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.

References

  1. 1 2 Bergeron, Kat (8 July 2017). "'Lord willin' and the creek don't rise!' But do creeks rise? Ah, wordplay". Sun Herald. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  2. 1 2 Quinion, Michael. "God willing and the creek don't rise". World Wide Words. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  3. Kane, Russell W. (5 April 1962). "Daytime Ernie Ford's Commercial Success". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  4. "Lord Willing and the Creek Don't Rise". A Way With Words. 20 May 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  5. Hank Williams: Lovesick Blues , retrieved 2021-06-16 Listen to the song and listen carefully at 2:51