# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341/21 "2016-11-10T14:25:31Z")
I’ve never been to Michigan but I knew it was there. Don’t know where in the state though. ---
**Author:** ![1iLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/1ileft/32/4114_2.png) [@1iLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/1iLeft)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341/22 "2016-11-10T14:56:56Z")
> [@Sangahyando](#): > > 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. Yes, very close, but it’s not on Lake Huron, and it’s more in the middle (north and south wise) of the Lower Peninsula and it’s not even on Saginaw Bay which is a bay within Lake Huron between Michigan’s Thumb and the rest of the Lower Peninsula. I grew up in Bay City, which is between Saginaw and Saginaw Bay and is divided by the Saginaw River, which flows into the Saginaw Bay, so yeah, I know where Saginaw is, but I kind of had a head start geographically. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341/23 "2016-11-10T14:58:15Z")
I had it wrong – I misremembered it as being near Winnipeg for some reason. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341/24 "2016-11-10T15:20:23Z")
My parents are from Michigan, and I have relatives still in that state. (Not in or close to Saginaw, though.) ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341/25 "2016-11-10T15:41:38Z")
It’s so funny when you ask someone from MI where such-and-such is and they hold up their palm and point. Makes total sense. (When I live in MA, we’d do the same thing for The Cape, but it would be your whole arm held like you were flexing your biceps). ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341/26 "2016-11-10T15:44:58Z")
I knew what state it is in, but I couldn’t have told you exactly where in the state. Bet I coulda found it on a map, tho! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341/27 "2016-11-10T16:01:42Z")
Many years ago I had a 1966 Pontiac LeMans, it had a Saginaw 3 speed transmission in it. Made my GM at it’s Saginaw transmission factory. ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341/28 "2016-11-10T16:14:42Z")
> [@BobArrgh](#): > > 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”). The example of this I keep coming back to is Bob Dylan’s _You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go_, which rhymes “Honolula” with Ashtabula\* (hey, it’s Dylan). \*location in the spoiler box belowOhio, on Lake Erie east of Cleveland ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341/29 "2016-11-10T16:20:54Z")
> [@BobArrgh](#): > > 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”). And you’ve gotta be “meshugenah” to think those are rhymes. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341/30 "2016-11-10T16:21:28Z")
I live in the UK, so have no idea. I love the Simon and Garfunkel song. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341/31 "2016-11-10T16:26:17Z")
I know where Saginaw is, I applied for a job there. . . . Oh wait, you’re not talking about Saginaw, Texas ? ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341/32 "2016-11-10T16:26:21Z")
I’m a west coast type, but I guessed correctly that it was in Michigan with maybe 60% certainty. Not sure when I learned that. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341/33 "2016-11-10T16:37:35Z")
Passed through many times on the freeway, but not sure if I ever stopped there. I once lived in a house on Saginaw Street, in Salem, Oregon. ---
**Author:** ![somepumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@somepumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/somepumpkin)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341/34 "2016-11-10T16:38:53Z")
I know what state it’s in. I’m not exactly sure WHERE within Michigan it is, though. (researches… ) Well, now I know where in the state it is. Also, “America” was the first thing i thought of when seeing your thread title. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341/35 "2016-11-10T16:40:45Z")
Sure. I grew up in Sarnia, Ontario, about 100 miles from Saginaw, and we drove past it to my great aunt’ and uncle’s cottage at least twice a year while I was a kid Sent from my adequate mobile device using Tapatalk. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341/36 "2016-11-10T16:44:33Z")
I know the state too although I couldn’t tell you exactly where or much anything else about it. I learned it from song lyrics. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341/37 "2016-11-10T17:28:21Z")
OK, I may be giving away my age and family musical background slightly but even though I had never met someone from said state until I was in college, I grew up hearing the song by Lefty Frizzell ---- so the answer is HELL YES!!! ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341/38 "2016-11-10T17:54:04Z")
> [@BobArrgh](#): > > … > 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”). “Fisherman” is by no means the worst of it. “Michigan” apparently also rhymes with “a richer man,” “ambitious man,” “missing him,” and “rich and then.” A lot of responsibility for a three-syllable state to carry. (I’m more familiar with that song than with the one referenced in the OP.) I’ve never been to Saginaw but drove up I75 fairly close by a few times. As a veteran atlas reader I already knew where to look. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341/39 "2016-11-10T18:02:24Z")
I think it’s Michigan I think something may have happened there because I think of it as a dateline for a news story - “Reporting to you from Saginaw County, Michigan” Yep. Right. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341/40 "2016-11-10T18:03:18Z")
Back when they used to run those commercials for [compilations CDs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_he5ENNAUU) (which I loved, it was like channel surfing on the radio but no one got annoyed with me), one of them had the first line “I was born in Saginaw Michigan” in it. I don’t know anything else from that song, but it stuck with me and all these years later when I hear “Saginaw”, I know it’s in Michigan. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341.md?page=3)