“Archipelago” was first released for Songs that Swing Left in September 2018. The initiative aims to give the US Democratic Party a majority control of the government.
The main melodic structure of the song is borrowed from “Down Under the Hyperion Bridge,” a song from Bird’s instrumental album Ech...
[Verse 1]
What if one day we just refused to play?
With no one to hate, they'd be out of a job
You’ve gone off script, you just can't walk away
Leave us naked, fleeced and racked with sobs
[Chorus 1]
Whoa
We're locked in a death grip and it’s taking its toll
When our enemies are what make us whole
Listen to me
No more excuses, no more apathy
This ain't no archipelago, no remote atoll
[Verse 2]
All my enemies, they just fall in love with me
Keeping us distracted while the till gets robbed
All our cries were cried
Now there are no sides
Try selling that one to an angry mob
[Chorus 2]
Whoa
J. Edgar Hoover wore a white mink stole
His enemies are what made him whole
Oh, what made him whole
(His enemies are what made him whole)
Whoa
A three-headed monster swallows Tokyo
Her enemies are what make her whole
(Her enemies are what make her whole)
Whoa
(Our enemies are what make us whole)
We're locked in a death grip and it's taking its toll
When our enemies are what make us whole
(Our enemies are what make us whole)
Whoa
(Our enemies are what make us whole)
No more excuses, no more apathy
This ain't no archipelago, no remote atoll
(Our enemies are what make us whole)
(Our enemies are what make us whole)
Archipelago was written by Andrew Bird.
Archipelago was produced by Andrew Bird & Paul Butler.
Andrew Bird released Archipelago on Fri Mar 22 2019.