I was born in Saginaw, Michigan
I grew up in a house on Saginaw Bay
My dad was a poor hardworking Saginaw fisherman
Too many times he came home with too little pay

I love a girl in Saginaw, Michigan
The daughter of a wealthy, wealthy man
But he called me "that son of a Saginaw fisherman"
Not good enough to claim his daughter's hand

Now I'm up here in Alaska looking around for gold
Like a crazy fool, I'm digging in this frozen ground so cold
But each new, day I pray I'll strike it rich and then
I'll go back home and claim my love in Saginaw, Michigan

I wrote my love in Saginaw, Michigan
I said, "Honey I'm coming home, please wait for me
And you can tell your pa, I'm coming back a richer man
I hit the biggest strike in Klondike history"

Her dad met me in Saginaw, Michigan
He gave me a great big party with champagne
Then he said, "Son, you're wise young ambitious man
Will you sell your father-in-law your Klondike claim?"

Now he's up there in Alaska digging in the cold cold ground
The greedy fool is looking for the gold I never found
It serves him right and no one here is missing him
Least of all, the newlyweds of Saginaw, Michigan
Just the happiest man and wife in Saginaw, Michigan
He's afraid to show his face in Saginaw, Michigan