Biography by Mark Deming
Lake Superior
The Arcs Lyrics
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Your alibi, will never do when the whole town's got it out for you
Judge fox, the Great Lake stain got Superior wanting to pull its own drain
To abandon the shore, where the poor get whipped and the fat get fatter and the rich stay rich
Where the mice of men are chained and bruised
Where to stand accused is to admit you lose
I wanna know people outdoor in't gonna go out and act insane
My baby girl out in a world all alone burns a hole in my brain
I wanna know people outdoor in't gonna go out and act insane
My baby boy, pride and joy, he's gonna go out and do the same
In the hall of harm disgraceful sounds Manitowoc knows how to gavel pound
They crack it right and shoot on site
Do you know where your baby is tonight?
The red tide is back again
Old Superior's new McCarthy clan back on the shore, where the poor get whipped
And the fat get fatter and the rich stay rich
Where the mice of men are chained and bruised
Where to stand accused is to admit you lose
I wanna know people outdoor in't gonna go out and act insane
My baby girl out in a world all alone burns a hole in my brain
I wanna know people outdoor in't gonna go out and act insane
My baby boy, pride and joy, he's gonna go out and do the same
In the opening lines of The Arcs’s “Lake Superior,” the setting is clearly Manitowoc, a stretch of sand on the shore of Lake Superior in Wisconsin. The song references the infamous Avery case, which saw Avery wrongly convicted of rape and then years later wrongly convicted of murder, highlighting how small towns can be poisoned by rumors and assumptions, often based on people's social standing. The refrain, “where the poor get whipped and the fat get fatter and the rich stay rich,” is a searing indictment of society, drawing attention to the fact that it is the less privileged individuals who are the most vulnerable to institutional power and corruption.
The lines, “Where the mice of men are chained and bruised / Where to stand accused is to admit you lose,” are powerful in their portrayal of a rigged, unjust system; where anyone standing accused is presumed guilty until proven otherwise. The song presents a concern for “people outdoor," those people who leave the closed confines of their home and potentially face the devastating consequences of societal injustice.
Line by Line Meaning
On a stretch of sand, sweet northern breeze Manitowoc put Avery on the beach
Steven Avery, the subject of the Netflix documentary 'Making a Murderer,' was placed on a beach in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin.
Your alibi, will never do when the whole town's got it out for you
If the entire town is against you, no alibi will save you from conviction.
Judge fox, the Great Lake stain got Superior wanting to pull its own drain
The Great Lakes region was tainted by the Steven Avery case, and Lake Superior wishes to cleanse itself of the stain.
To abandon the shore, where the poor get whipped and the fat get fatter and the rich stay rich
The poor suffer while the rich benefit from living near the lake, prompting some to consider leaving the shoreline.
Where the mice of men are chained and bruised
Weaker individuals are vulnerable and oppressed in this area.
Where to stand accused is to admit you lose
The justice system is flawed, and being accused is often equivalent to being found guilty.
I wanna know people outdoor in't gonna go out and act insane
The singer hopes that people will maintain their sanity in a world that seems to be growing crazier every day.
My baby girl out in a world all alone burns a hole in my brain
The singer is worried about his daughter being on her own in a dangerous world.
My baby boy, pride and joy, he's gonna go out and do the same
The singer's son will likely face the same dangers as his sister.
In the hall of harm disgraceful sounds Manitowoc knows how to gavel pound
The town of Manitowoc has a reputation for being harsh and unforgiving in its judgment of wrong-doers.
They crack it right and shoot on site
Law enforcement in Manitowoc is quick to use lethal force to take down criminals.
Do you know where your baby is tonight?
The singer questions whether parents know where their children are and what dangers they may face.
The red tide is back again
The singer references the red tide, a harmful algal bloom that can kill marine life and pose a threat to human health.
Old Superior's new McCarthy clan back on the shore, where the poor get whipped
The singer compares the oppression of the poor in Manitowoc to the tactics of Joseph McCarthy during the 'Red Scare.'
Contributed by Aria T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.