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

I loved 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
With each day I pray I'll strike it rich and then
Go back home and claim my love in Saginaw, Michigan

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

Her dad met me in Saginaw, Michigan
Gave me a great big party with champagne
And he said, "Son, you're a wise, young, ambitious man
Won't you sell your father-in-law your Klondike claim?"

Now he's up there in Alaska digging in the cold hard 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

We're the happiest man and wife in Saginaw, Michigan
He's ashamed to show his face in Saginaw, Michigan