# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **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/771341/41 "2016-11-10T18:03:27Z")
> [@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.” It ain’t a _big_ city, but the Saginaw metro area is roughly 200k people. Methinks the reviewer just assumed “Indian-named city in Michigan, must be some little podunk.” ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341/42 "2016-11-10T18:19:24Z")
_points at the appropriate spot on my right hand_ Using the right hand as the pocket version of a map to the Lower Peninsula basically answers the rest. 😛 ---
**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, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341/43 "2016-11-10T18:58:15Z")
> [@1iLeft](#): > > 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. Ah, well, maybe you folks with detailed local knowledge can cut an ignorant Limey a bit of slack… I’m kind-of-dimly-aware of Bay City, for a very foolish reason. There was in the 1980s in Britain, a (male) popular-music group originating in Scotland, who came to be a great sensation on the generally British “teeny-bopper” scene, who called themselves the Bay City Rollers. They explained their name by saying, “we stuck a pin at random in a map of the USA, deciding that wherever it landed, we’d call ourselves the \*\*\* Rollers”. Their pin seemingly landed on Bay City; I gather that there’s also a Bay City in Texas – which one the pin hit, “deponent sayeth not”. Thinking of the strangely-named places in the USA, which their pin might have homed in on … oh, well, who knows? ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341/44 "2016-11-10T19:16:42Z")
> [@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”). Your theory of songwriting would be correct in many instances. 🆒 How else do you think something like _Red Solo Cup_ gets written? The answer to the OP though, is yes. I grew up about four hours from there. I also worked in the auto industry for several years with many trips to various GM plants in the area. ---
**Author:** ![snoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@snoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snoe)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341/45 "2016-11-10T19:32:16Z")
> [@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”). My birth city is the focus at least one semi-famous song,[but it’s a lot less red-blooded than your examples.](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NIjlgp9Oh1k) And the rhymes are lazy as hell. ---
**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, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341/46 "2016-11-10T19:39:59Z")
So, no one remembers [I Want to Go Back to Michigan](http://www.oldielyrics.com/lyrics/irving_berlin/i_want_to_go_back_to_michigan_down_on_the_farm.html)? _I was born in Michigan And I wish and wish again That I was back in the town where I was born There’s a farm in Michigan And I’d like to fish again In the river that flows beside the fields of waving corn_ ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341/47 "2016-11-10T20:10:06Z")
Yarp; but I’m from Detroit so that’s no shock. I love that line in he song, though, it’s a great place to really belt when you’re singing along. And speaking from Utah, Michigan \*does \*seem like a dream to me now. ---
**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, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341/48 "2016-11-10T21:24:26Z")
I’ve got the TV on and the old movie The Big Chill is on. And in the movie they mentioned Saginaw. Now that’s a coincidence. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341/49 "2016-11-10T22:59:26Z")
I _was_ born in Saginaw. StG ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341/50 "2016-11-10T23:11:05Z")
I know it’s in the LP of Michigan about in the middle. I probably drove past it when I was young as I grew up in the Cleveland OH area and we went to the northern parts of the LP for several summer vacations. ---
**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, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341/51 "2016-11-10T23:23:50Z")
Saginaw is kinda like Flint, Jr. And Flint is kinda like Detroit, Jr. Yeah, we got some great cities in MI. :o ---
**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 11, 2016, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341/52 "2016-11-11T01:49:41Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > Saginaw is kinda like Flint, Jr. And Flint is kinda like Detroit, Jr. Yeah, we got some great cities in MI. :o Hey now wait a minute – you got Michigan’s Adventure, Shivering Timbers, and their yearly Timberfest. Screw cities, that alone gets you on my A list. Especially since its basically a short run from there to Indiana Beach. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341/53 "2016-11-11T02:03:12Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > Saginaw is kinda like Flint, Jr. And Flint is kinda like Detroit, Jr. Yeah, we got some great cities in MI. :o For being 315 years old, expanding its boundaries and industry for the majority of that time, and having been under US, British and French rule in its history Detroit could be doing far worse. Ypsilanti, now THAT is an embarrassment. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341/54 "2016-11-11T03:13:40Z")
I’ve been there. And I have [Lefty Frizzel’s original version](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFarJc8aGSE) on my playlist. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341/55 "2016-11-11T08:49:18Z")
I know exactly where it is because I drove right past it two or three times back in the '90s. I’m pretty sure I at least knew what state it was in long before that though. ---
**Author:** ![kk\_fusion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kk_fusion/32/15276_2.png) [@kk\_fusion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kk_fusion)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341/56 "2016-11-11T09:29:36Z")
Yes. I made it a habit of learning the state along with U.S. cities. Without reading the thread – I believe Saginaw is in Michigan. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341/57 "2016-11-11T10:02:35Z")
I’m from Virginia and knew where it was before I visited it a couple years ago. ---
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341/58 "2016-11-11T11:42:24Z")
Immediately after reading the thread title my brain auto-completed “Saginaw, Michigan” but I don’t know why. I don’t have a mental image of where in Michigan it would be, and know it mainly from the S&G song “America”. I spent a summer or two in jobs in college that involved typing and mailing letters and forms to cities all over the country, I may have made one out to Saginaw, or perhaps I noticed it on the map while planning a never-taken trip that included going from Milwaukee to a ferry across Lake Michigan and then a cross-Michigan route to Ontario and Toronto and on to Niagara Falls. ---
**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 11, 2016, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341/59 "2016-11-11T12:05:46Z")
> [@Sangahyando](#): > > Ah, well, maybe you folks with detailed local knowledge can cut an ignorant Limey a bit of slack… I thought saying “yes, very close” was more of a complement than a criticism, and then I went on to try and give a little clarity, as I’m familiar with the area. Sorry, I did not mean to criticize. ---
**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 11, 2016, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341/60 "2016-11-11T15:43:07Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > I’ve been there. > > And I have [Lefty Frizzel’s original version](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFarJc8aGSE) on my playlist. You are now my Favorite Fellow Doper of the Day. 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-looking-it-up-or-someone-telling-you-could-you-say-where-saginaw-is/771341.md?page=4)