Excuse Me
Ben and his friends Lyrics

Excuse me Mr.
Addressing the person in charge or with power who has the ability to make a positive change

Do you have the time
Asking for their attention and open-mindedness

Or are you so important
Hinting at arrogance or self-importance

That it stands still for you
Suggesting that their power might be making them lose touch with reality

Excuse me Mr. won't you
Continuing the address with a request for cooperation

Lend me your ear
Asking for their capacity to listen and empathize

Or are you not only blind
Imagining that they might lack the perception and vision to see the issue

But do you not hear
Wondering if they are also deaf to the plight of others

Excuse me Mr., but
Repeating the polite address to keep their attention

Isn't that your oil in the sea
Pointing to a visible source of the ecological problem

And the pollution in the air Mr.
Reminding them of their responsibility to maintain the environment

Whose could that be
Asking a rhetorical question sarcastically as if the answer was obvious

So excuse me Mr.
Repeating the polite address to shift the focus back to the main issue

But I'm a mister too
Emphasizing the similarity and humanity between the two different social classes

And you're givin' Mr. a bad name
Blaming them for portraying their privilege in a negative way

Mr. like you
Specifically accusing them of being the problem

So I'm taking the Mr.
Claiming the power to change the narrative and the perception of the social class

From out in front of your name
Symbolically disowning the label of privilege and social inequality

'Cause it's a Mr. like you
Clarifying the reason and the cause of the problematic behavior

That puts the rest of us to shame
Highlighting the disparity of opportunity and resources

And I've, I have seen enough, I've seen enough to know
Asserting that the situation is dire and requires immediate action

That I've seen too much
Expressing the emotional burden and trauma of witnessing injustice and inaction

Excuse me Mr.
Repeating the polite address to restart the conversation

Can't you see the children dying
Drawing attention to the human cost and tragedy of the situation

You say that you can't help them
Challenging the excuse of lack of ability or resources

Mr. you're not even trying
Accusing them of apathy and cynicism

Just take a look around
Inviting them to observe the reality of the world and its problems

Oh Mr. just look up
Asking them to raise their vision and see the bigger picture

And you will, you will see it comin' down
Predicting the consequences and the inevitable downfall of the current system

And I've seen enough, I have seen and I have seen
Repeating the assertion of the seriousness and urgency of the issue

I have seen enough to know
Stating that experience and evidence have informed their perspective

That I have seen too much
Admitting the emotional and psychological toll of exposure to injustice

See 'cause Mr. when you're rattling
Using a metaphor of judgment and accountability in the afterlife

On heaven's gate
Describing the mythical and ultimate destination of moral judgment

Let me tell you Mr.
Asserting the authority and knowledge of the singer

By then it is too late
Implying regret and remorse for missed opportunities

'Cause Mr. when you get there
Continuing the metaphor of judgment and accountability in the afterlife

They don't ask, they don't ask what you saved
Reframing the priorities and the criteria of judgment

All they'll want to know, Mr.
Revealing the only criterion that matters: moral responsibility and compassion

Is what you gave
Emphasizing the importance of altruism and empathy

So excuse me Mr.
Concluding the song with a direct appeal to the addressee

But I'm a mister too
Reaffirming the common humanity and brotherhood between people of all social classes

And you're givin' Mr. a bad name
Repeating the accusation and the challenge to assume responsibility

Mr. like you
Reiterating the source of the problem and the solution

So I'm taking the Mr.
Repeating the symbolic action of disowning the privilege and the inequality

From out in front of your name
Reemphasizing the rejection of the label associated with oppression and injustice

'Cause it's a Mr. like you
Restating the crucial role of individual accountability and action

That puts the rest of us to shame
Concluding the song with a powerful and poignant reminder of the suffering and the disparity caused by social inequality