My theory is that he does all the whistling because he "struggles" with lyrics (trying to be diplomatic).  Don't get me wrong.  I have this album and dig it _a lot_, with respect to the music. Quite amazing tunes, really.  I listen to it often. I gave this song an 8.

But those are some questionable lyrics (as near as I can tell).  I think "cryptic" doesn't do it justice. I mean seriously, there's a fine line between clever and....stupid.  Same with his first album.  I generally don't listen much to lyrics, but hearing "sociopaths" over and over (and over) prompted me to investigate and then ask myself "WTF?".  Don't even get me started on "Nomenclature".  One might argue that the words are only there because he likes the sound of them.  Michael Stipe, David Byrne and (many) others have taken that approach successfully (IMO).  But the wacky words that AB uses (and invents) are just grating to me.  I used to dislike the whistling but I am rethinking that position.    Just my opinion.

In the salsify mains
of what was thoughtful and sad
all the calcified arhythmatists
were doing the math.

And it would take a calculated
blow to the head to
blind the eyes of all the harmless
sociopaths. Oh

Arm in Arm we are the harmless
sociopaths. Oh
arm in arm with all the harmless
sociopaths

Calcium mines you buried
deep in your chest. Oh the
calcium mines you buried
deep in your chest.

Hoo-oo-oo
you're deep in a mine,
hoo-oo-oo
a calcium mine
o-o-oh.

Let’s get out of here
past the atmosphere,
squint your eyes and no one
dies or goes to jail,
past the silver bridge
oh the silver bridge
wearing nothing but a
one-sie and a veil.

Hoo-oo-oo
you're deep in a mine,
hoo-oo-oo
a calcium mine
o-o-oh.

Arm in arm we are the harmless
sociopaths. Oh
arm in arm with all the harmless
sociopaths

In the calcium mines buried
deep in your chest. Oh the
calcium mines buried
deep in your chest.

Hoo-oo-oo
you're deep in a mine,
Oh-no
a calcium mine
Oh-no.

So let’s get out of here
past the atmosphere,
squint your eyes and no one
dies or goes to jail,
past the silver bridge
oh the silver bridge
wearing nothing but a
one-sie and a veil.

Whistling with reverb?   Must be Andrew Bird!

Pieter wrote:
Yeah, something wrong there, but those are some awesome lyrics as well...

yup and i think this is some amazing shit!

 Pieter wrote: 

Anyone checked the Tunezee lyrics?

johnny fever is setting in. 

 tnt_thomas wrote: 
He toured down here a while back. One reviewer called him a 'serial whistler'.

No one whistles like Andrew BIIIIRRRD! Bwa-hahahahaha!

Oh Yes!

 mybaldbird wrote: 
The bird man has the most distinctive oddly likeable incomprehensible pronunciation!

 contractor07 wrote: 
Any song with the word "sociopath" in the lyrics will get at least an 8 from me! This gets an 8 for now, but it's getting closer to a 9 for each listen.

Great song, crazy lyrics

 annersjen wrote: 
Me too, but I don't have to check anymore. If it's whistling, it's Andrew Bird!

 mybaldbird wrote: 
ions > mines, but other than that you nailed it, which I never would have without looking up the lyrics. Who'da thought?!?

Calcium ions buried deep in your chest? Nice.

(I know it's wrong, but that's what I hear anyways)

groovy...

Very nice....interesting lyrics.

And whistling!

This album is totally growing on me. I keep hearing good songs and checking to see who it is...

Brilliant!