“Well if that don’t beat all! I’ve never seen the like in all my borned days.”
Last night’s video: Mountain Path 14.
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If I recall correctly, on Gunsmoke Festus used the expression “in all my borned to-togethers”
I’ve heard that one before!
Loretta Lynn wrote the biographical song, Coal Miner’s Daughter, in which the first line was, “Well, I was BORNED a coal miner’s daughter.” Someone up the ladder at her record label said they couldn’t have that–“too country.” But someone else convinced them to leave it in — “That’s pure Loretta.” And so it was and is to this day, thank goodness.
Well, Don’t that just take the cake?
Well don’t it beat all that a commenter included ‘much obliged’ which is what you’ve been asayin we should be all month!
Much obliged, Tipper.
I miss my young self. I was always saying, “in all my born days.” My sis does not follow your blog, but she loves when we discuss anything to do with our unique sayings and words. Our family got really tickled at Mom once when she said somebody was “pale and wan,” but she quickly showed us this was an actual old expression for a person who looked sickly.
Sis shared a recent story about her granddaughter that is into everything at school, and her Mom often has to chauffeur other teens as well. One evening they were running late for a cheerleading practice so my niece told the young girls to “quit pokin’ around. An accompanying little friend was extremely puzzled and asked what pokin’ around meant. Whereas my little niece became the interpreter and explained it was just like if somebody is “piddlin’. Even more confused the friend asked my little niece, “What is piddling?” My sister takes the credit and says they picked it up from her. Now if that don’t beat all!
Anybody heard of gollybum? I heard it said when I lived in Tennessee and means the same thing as, don’t that beat all.
Charla-Gollybum is common here 🙂
I’ve heard and used “If that don’t beat all!” In fact I’ve heard them all or said them myself.
I still use the phrase as is or I might say”well if that don’t beat uh hen uh rootin”
Sounds like you’ve been eavesdropping on me.
Yep, very familiar, all three parts; ‘don’t that beat all’, ‘never seen the like’ and ‘all my born days’. Used in any combination of one or two or all three. The more used, the more emphasis on how unique the event is. Born can be pronounced ‘born -ed’ or even ‘born-ded’. All kinds of variations for each of the three but all with the meaning that some event or circumstance surpasses anything ever seen before. Lots of good fun in customizing the parts.
I am reading “Tall Woman” by Wilma Dykeman from Internet Archive and liking it very much. She combines good writing with native knowledge of mountain ways.
He was talkin’ to beat the band”. My Granpa Nick Byers, commenting on someone talking fast…and “Much obliged” was “Thank you”.
Yes, I’ve heard that one but not lately. One I’ve used and rarely heard is, well now if that don’t beat the livin wadoogles out of ya. I’m not sure, but my wife or me may have made that one up years ago.
I have heard “if that don’t beat all” growing up in San Diego. I was around a lot of military – San Diego is a navy and marine town. So, even though I heard a lot (but not most) of the Appalachian words and phrases you teach us here, they were probably coming out of the mouths of true southerners that happened to be in the service and stationed in San Diego! I love your vocabulary lessons!
Donna. : )
“Well if that don’t beat all.” I’ve heard and said that all my life.
Yes, I have heard & used that all my life. Also, my mother & grandmother would say, “Well if that don’t beat a goose a-gobblin!”
Borned is one of my husband’s favorite words. Lol He is a wonderful, God called, spirit filled Baptis minister. In all his sermons he uses this word, BORNED. Over and over , you must be Borned again. I suppose he will continue using BORNED as long as he preaches. This year he will celebrate 50 years in God’s ministry. Love to you all and remember , we all must be BORNED again to see God, Jesus, Holy Spirit and Heaven. Happy Thanksgiving
Martha, my husband and I have been in the Ministry for almost 50 years also. Thank God! I have been born again! I sure am enjoying the Blind Pig and the Acorn. I feel like Tipper and her family are like family to me. It was good to read your message here tonight.
If that don’t beat all! I musy have heard my grandmother say this a thousand times!
My mother’ favorite was In alk my bitn days. She left the ed off born though.
!!!