For years, Seger never publicly commented on the actual place this song was written about. There were theories that it is symbolic of the biblical Lake of Fire, and it was noted there is an actual Fire Lake in Iron County, Michigan (the state where Seger grew up), as well.
Seger eventually stated that it is about a lake in Michigan called Silver Lake. He told Toledo Free Press in March 2011: "It was written about Silver Lake in Dexter, about being in the Pinckney-Hell-Dexter area."
His good friends Don Henley, Glenn Frey and Timothy B. Schmit of the Eagles sang backup for Seger on this song. A year earlier, Seger came up with the chorus to the Eagles hit "Heartache Tonight."
Seger has said that this lyric is one of his favorites. As a song about taking risks, Seger says this song broke away from his past efforts in style and content, which proved serendipitous.
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