God willing and the creek don’t rise is a saying I remember from my childhood. However, most of the folks in my family replaced “God” with “The Good Lord.”

After hearing them blurt out this saying, I often asked my relatives what they meant. Most were so shocked that a child had listened to what they said an answer was not forthcoming. Others mumbled something about having a plan to do something but knowing that their plan could be interrupted by fate.

Personally, I always believed they were using the expression as an excuse. As if to say, “I plan to do that if nothing better comes along that I’d rather do.”

A few years ago, I overheard someone in a crowd use this expression. Another in the crowd called them on it and expounded on the origin. Said person related that history tells us the original use was from the middle 1800’s and referred to the Creek Indians. Hence, a person would promise something if the “Creek” meaning Indians, not “creek” meaning water, don’t rise.

The Creek Indians were considered a division of the Muskhogean family who received the name due to the numerous streams in their country. Early in their history, the Creek occupied a portion of Alabama and Georgia, living near rivers. As far as a revolt of any kind against the Americans, history is sketchy.

*The only historic writing about the Creeks and their involvement in war with the Americans that I could locate was in 1813-1814 during the “Creek war” in which Gen. Jackson played a part. It is noted that this ended in complete defeat of the Indians, followed by the cession of a great part of their lands to the United States.

*It has also been stated that the expression dates back to the late 18th century when Benjamin Hawkins (General Superintendent for Indian Affairs 1796-1818) was asked by the U.S. president to return to Washington. In his reply, he was said to have written, “God willing and the Creek don’t rise.”

Because “Creek” was capitalized, there were those who thought he referred to the Creek Indians, even though at the time the common writing practice was to capitalize all nouns. There is no such letter by Hawkins kept in any known archives, and the majority of researchers dismiss any connection to the Creek Indians.

While the history of the Creek Indians is filled with lore and makes for an interesting read, I could find no reference to a “rising,” water or otherwise.

After the 1800’s, the expression does not appear to have been widely used again until the 1950’s and 1960’s and was associated with specific regions. The word “crick” was sometimes used in rural areas in place of “creek.” If my grandfather told me he would do something, “Good Lord willing and the crick don’t rise,” it would never have occurred to me that he meant Indians.

These days it is not an expression widely used, but if you do hear it flow from someone’s mouth you should ask where he or she heard it and what they think it means. Be sure to have a glass of sweet tea close by because the explanation could take a while. We are in the south after all.

So with “hat in hand” I am off to do more research for next week’s article, which I will turn in to my editor in a timely fashion. Good Lord willing and the creek don’t rise.
*Reference: http://www.worldwidewords.org, Bob Scala/Michael Quinion