# Without looking it up or someone telling you...could you say where Saginaw is? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 10, 2016, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341 "2016-11-10T09:10:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341/1 "2016-11-10T09:10:35Z")
So I like the song “America” by Simon and Garfunkel. Earlier, I was alerted to the fact that I had been singing it wrong all of my life. I used to sing it with this line “This all seems like a dream to me now”. Well, suffice to say, that is not how the line really goes. : p And someone else (the one who taught me what the line above REALLY said) pointed out the connection between that line and the one that goes “It took me four days to hitchhike from Saginaw”. Well…yeah, that would have been a connection made… if I had known where Saginaw was in the first place. :smack: I do now, though. :o Do you know where Saginaw is? Do you know where it is because you actually live in that state or have visited it before or have ties (I.E. friends or family) there? …Or do you know where it is even without ever having been to that state and having no ties to it? Or…maybe it’s neither, and you assume where Saginaw is only because you know how the actual line in “America” goes. : p I know the capital of that state. I know other cities in that state. I just didn’t know Saginaw was in that state. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341/2 "2016-11-10T09:16:16Z")
Yes I do. I’ve been to the state, never lived there or even close, but have never been to Saginaw before. I also like that song, and I know how that line goes. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341/3 "2016-11-10T09:20:31Z")
Yeah, I’ve heard of Saginaw. Couldn’t tell you if it’s Upper Peninsula or Lower Peninsula, though. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341/4 "2016-11-10T09:35:14Z")
Yes, and I think I know sort of where it is. Near the thumbpit and a little inland, I think. Can’t remember what side it’s on, though. ---
**Author:** ![Mona\_Lisa\_Simpson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce7236/32.png) [@Mona\_Lisa\_Simpson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mona_Lisa_Simpson)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341/5 "2016-11-10T10:14:08Z")
I’m Canadian. My grandfather worked on the boats on the Great Lakes/St Lawrence Seaway. I had an Atlas and would keep updated on his trips. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341/6 "2016-11-10T10:49:15Z")
I live in the state so yes, I know. However, when I was young I heard this: “It took me four days to hitchhike from Saginaw, I’ve come…” as this: “It took me four days to hitchhike from Saginaw Island…” mmm ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341/7 "2016-11-10T11:15:20Z")
Yes, I know where Saginaw is but I’m not sure why or when I learned it. I always heard the line as Saginaw Island too ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341/8 "2016-11-10T11:17:35Z")
I know what state it is in from the Bill Anderson song that was a hit for Lefty Frizzell. The only other thing I know about the place is that Allmusic in its review of the album says, “If there was ever a town that is too dull to deserve such a great song, _Saginaw, Michigan_ would be it.” ---
**Author:** ![BobArrgh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobarrgh/32/2881_2.png) [@BobArrgh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobArrgh)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341/9 "2016-11-10T12:22:10Z")
I have a theory that when singers and songwriters get together and have a few drinks, they start bragging and boasting they can write a song about anything, and make it rhyme, too. Someone does a shot and says, “OK, Hot Shot, I was born [insert name of city here] … write that song!” That’s the only explanation for songs like _Saginaw, Michigan_ (which rhymes with “fisherman”), _Galveston_ (which rhymes with “she was twenty-one” and “clean my gun”), and _Streets of Bakersfield_ (which rhymes with “blisters on my heels”). ---
**Author:** ![WildBlueYonder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ce7236/32.png) [@WildBlueYonder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildBlueYonder)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341/10 "2016-11-10T12:51:03Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > I know what state it is in from the Bill Anderson song that was a hit for Lefty Frizzell. The only other thing I know about the place is that Allmusic in its review of the album says, “If there was ever a town that is too dull to deserve such a great song, _Saginaw, Michigan_ would be it.” Oh how well I know and have for a young age. One of our network channels when I was young came from Saginaw, Flint, Bay City. I know all the capitals in the US-Europe, not so much! And very close to zero in Asia Cant say I know where which city is in which state but I’d cut a hole wide with trying. I love that song Lefty sang. I grew up with that kind of music, that’s all the music the old man listened to. I still like those songs! ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341/11 "2016-11-10T12:59:21Z")
I know where it is too. Do good? I? No! Evil anon I deliver. I maim nine more hero- men in Saginaw, sanitary sword a-tuck, Carol, I–lo!– rack, cut a drowsy rat in Aswan. I gas nine more hero-men in Miami. Reviled, I (Nona) live on. I do, O God! ---
**Author:** ![Pabitel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbce88/32.png) [@Pabitel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pabitel)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341/12 "2016-11-10T13:03:52Z")
I lived for 10+ years in Lansing. I-69 to I-75 then north. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341/13 "2016-11-10T13:14:54Z")
Lived 99% of my life in the Midwest, so I am well aware where it is. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341/14 "2016-11-10T13:30:22Z")
Sure, I grew up in Michigan. I saw a friend perform in a play at the Dow Event Center Theatre in Saginaw. ---
**Author:** ![Sangahyando](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f14d63/32.png) [@Sangahyando](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sangahyando)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341/15 "2016-11-10T13:31:02Z")
Brit responding (before reading the rest of the thread): it’s in the state of Michigan – I think, in the more northerly part of that state’s Lower Peninsula, on the shore of Lake Huron. ---
**Author:** ![Sangahyando](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f14d63/32.png) [@Sangahyando](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sangahyando)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341/16 "2016-11-10T13:40:18Z")
Forestalled by 5-minute edit window: got it pretty much right. I first heard of the place via the song mentioned upthread, featuring Anderson and Frizell – felt curious, and referred to the atlas. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341/17 "2016-11-10T13:42:07Z")
Yep, I was in Saginaw last night. ---
**Author:** ![Ace309](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ace309/32/1050_2.png) [@Ace309](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ace309)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341/18 "2016-11-10T13:46:26Z")
If I recall correctly, Norman the Lunatic was billed as being from Saginaw (when he wasn’t in his Makhan Singh guise). ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341/19 "2016-11-10T13:57:49Z")
When very young I lived in the UP, and later in WI, so I know what state it’s in, but probably couldn’t point to it on a map. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341/20 "2016-11-10T14:07:45Z")
I knew it was Michigan. but had it conflated with Mackinaw. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341.md?page=2)