Frizzell was born in El Dorado, Arkansas, in 1941. He began performing in his brother's show at the age of 12. He toured with his brother throughout the 1950s and 1960s and served in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War. He signed with Columbia Records in 1970 and finally achieved solo success, placing the single "I Just Can't Help Believing" on the Billboard top-40 country charts.
Frizzell appeared regularly on Buck Owens' All American TV Show during the 1970s, and recorded for Capitol Records. In 1981, he recorded his first number-one country hit, "You're the Reason God Made Oklahoma," a duet with Shelly West. The song won the Country Music Association's "Song of the Year" and "Vocal Duet of the Year" awards in 1981 and was featured in Clint Eastwood's film Any Which Way You Can. Frizzell and West also won the Academy of Country Music award for "Vocal Duo of the Year" in 1981 and 1982.
In 1982, Frizzell hit number-one on the country charts with the solo single, "I'm Gonna Hire a Wino (to Decorate Our Home)", which was nominated for Song of the Year in the 1982 Grammy Awards. He continued to tour and record with West until 1986.
After he parted ways with Shelly West, Frizzell continued to record solo albums, but he has not kept up the phenomenal popularity he commanded during the early 1980s. He is currently touring and working on a television tribute to his late brother, Lefty Frizzell.
Saginaw Michigan
David Frizzell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I grew up in a house on Saginaw Bay
My daddy was a poor hard working Saginaw fisherman
Too many times he came home with too little pay
I loved a girl in Saginaw, Michigan
She was the daughter of a wealthy, wealthy man
But he called me, "That son of a Saginaw fisherman"
That's why I'm up here in Alaska looking around for gold
Like a crazy fool I'm a digging in the frozen ground, so cold
But with 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 a coming home, please wait for me
And you can tell your dad that I'm coming back a richer man
I've hit the biggest strike in Klondyke history"
Her dad met the bus in Saginaw, Michigan
And he gave me a great big party with champagne
Then he said, "Son, you're wise, young ambitious man
Why don't you sell your father-in-law your Klondyke claim?"
Now he's up there in Alaska digging in the cold, cold ground
That greedy fool is a looking for the gold I never found
But it serves him right and nobody here is missing him
Least of all the newly-weds of Saginaw, Michigan
David Frizzell's song "Saginaw Michigan" tells a story of a young man who grew up in Saginaw Michigan and fell in love with the daughter of a wealthy man. However, his love was not accepted by the girl's father who believed the young man was not good enough for his daughter because he was the son of a poor hard-working Saginaw fisherman. In search of a better life, the singer moves to Alaska to dig for gold, hoping that returning back with riches would win the father's approval and he will be able to marry his love.
The song reflects the theme of classism and social hierarchy where a wealthy man looks down upon the working class and determines who is deserving enough to marry his daughter. Despite the social barriers the singer faces, he remains ambitious and determined to achieve his goals, even if it means going through challenging and dangerous situations such as digging in the frozen ground in Alaska.
Overall, "Saginaw Michigan" is a love story with a strong message of valuing hard work and determination, and breaking down societal barriers.
Line by Line Meaning
I was born in Saginaw, Michigan
I entered the world as a Saginaw, Michigan resident
And I grew up in a house on Saginaw Bay
I spent my childhood in a dwelling adjacent to Saginaw Bay
My daddy was a poor hard working Saginaw fisherman
My father was a cash-strapped and toiling angler in Saginaw
Too many times he came home with too little pay
My father would often return with meagre remuneration
I loved a girl in Saginaw, Michigan
I have affection for a girl domiciled in Saginaw, Michigan
She was the daughter of a wealthy, wealthy man
The woman I fancy is the offspring of an affluent magnate
But he called me, "That son of a Saginaw fisherman"
The rich man referred to me as "Offspring of a Saginaw fisherman"
And not good enough to ever claim his daughter's hand
Thus, he deemed me unworthy of marrying his daughter
That's why I'm up here in Alaska looking around for gold
Hence, I am scouring Alaska for the precious metal
Like a crazy fool I'm a digging in the frozen ground, so cold
In my fervor and fervidness, I excavate the frigid terrain erratically
But with each new day I pray I'll strike it rich and then
Yet daily I hope to make a fortune and subsequently
I'll go back home and claim my love in Saginaw, Michigan
Return home and win my sweetheart in Saginaw, Michigan
I wrote my love in Saginaw, Michigan
I communicated my amorous feelings to my sweetheart in Saginaw, Michigan
I said, "Honey, I'm a coming home, please wait for me
I conveyed, "Darling, I shall return, kindly anticipate my arrival
And you can tell your dad that I'm coming back a richer man
Furthermore, relay to your father that I am coming back wealthy
I've hit the biggest strike in Klondyke history"
Because I found the most substantial mining deposit in Klondike history"
Her dad met the bus in Saginaw, Michigan
My lover's father greeted the bus in Saginaw, Michigan
And he gave me a great big party with champagne
Additionally, he hosted an extravagant celebration with champagne
Then he said, "Son, you're wise, young ambitious man
Next, he complimented, "Son, you are a prudent, eager young man
Why don't you sell your father-in-law your Klondyke claim?"
Why don't you vend your Klondike mining rights to your father-in-law?"
Now he's up there in Alaska digging in the cold, cold ground
Presently, he is in Alaska, excavating the freezing territory
That greedy fool is a looking for the gold I never found
The avaricious imbecile searches for gold I never discovered
But it serves him right and nobody here is missing him
However, that is just what he deserves and no one is reminiscing about him
Least of all the newly-weds of Saginaw, Michigan
Especially, the Saginaw newlyweds do not miss his presence
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Bill Anderson, Donald Wayne Choate
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind