No Doubt's live act began to attract regional interest, and Interscope Records signed them in 1991. The band's debut a year later, an odd fusion of '80s and ska, sank without a trace in the wake of the grunge movement. As a result, Interscope refused to support No Doubt's tour or further recordings. The band responded by recording on their own during 1993-94; the result was the self-released The Beacon Street Collection, much rawer and more punk-inspired than the debut. Eric Stefani left just after its release, later working as an animator for The Simpsons. By late 1994, Interscope allowed recordings to resume, and Tragic Kingdom was released in October 1995. The album's third single, Don't Speak, which although originally written by Eric was later altered by Gwen to document her breakup with bassist Tony Kanal. Tragic Kingdom went platinum and has sold over 15 million copies to date. As Tragic Kingdom obtained success, the band toured furiously until late '97.
After a long break, the band had prepared a more mellow, and powerfully dramatic album entitled Return of Saturn. It emphasized Gwen's encounters with men, her biological clock, and miscellaneous topics. Although the album had a completely different approach to it, the band was making rock music with less of a punk/ska flare. The album debuted at #2 on the Billboard charts in early April of 2000, and then declined to a flop. The public never did justice to the album, and it serves as a favorite for many die-hard fans.
While touring in Jamaica for Return of Saturn, the band wanted to try adding Reggae to their music, and making more of a dance rock record. 20 months after Return of Saturn debuted, the band was quick to jump on the creation of Rock Steady, released in December of '01. The singles Underneath It All and Hey Baby became international dance club symbols as top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100. This album proved that No Doubt had not lost their potential with the public, and that they could appeal to various groups of people.
In 2004, No Doubt announced they would be going on hiatus after the release of the singles compilation The Singles 1992–2003, which contained one new song, a cover of experimental rock band Talk Talk's "It's My Life". Tony Kanal did several projects with Gwen and other artists. Adrian Young married and had a child; Tom Dumont formed a new band, Invincible Overlord, often plays with Matt Costa's band. Gwen embarked on a sucessful solo career which consisted of two albums - "Love. Angel. Music. Baby." and "The Sweet Escape". The first of these albums contains the single "Hollaback Girl", a song which was inescapable for most of 2005 and hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and won her a Billboard Award for first track to reach 1 Million legal downloads ever. The self titled track off "The Sweet Escape" went on to become her most notorious calling card.
With the hiatus officially over in late 2008 No Doubt announced tour plans for 2009, kicking it off in Atlantic City. The tour concluded with four dates in Irvine, CA. In May, 2009, the band was featured as a fictional 80's band, "Snowed Out", on CW Network's "Gossip Girl" The band performed their cover of Adam and the Ants 'Stand and Deliver.'
The group entered the studio in May 2010 to start recording on their sixth studio album: Push and Shove which will be release on September 25, 2012 and its first single will be "Settle Down". Their first music video for the new album will also be for "Settle Down" and it will be directed by Sophie Muller (who previously has done numerous music videos for No Doubt). The whole album has been recorded with producer Mark "Spike" Stent (who worked on their previous album Rock Steady) but they have also collaborated with Major Lazer (now Diplo's solo project). No Doubt previously revealed they are taking influence from ska, 80s new wave and Jamaican reggae music for the new record.
09. Excuse Me Mr
No Doubt Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm holding signs up on your street corner stops
Like most you try not to see me
Stare straight ahead, ignore the responsibility
Excuse me (excuse me, mister)
Well, I've been waiting in line
And I'd like to buy some of your time
What's your billing? (Anxious, eager, willing)
So please excuse me, mister
You've got things all wrong
You make it feel like a crime
So don't confuse me, mister
I've known you too long
All I need is a little of your time
Oh
For most, love comes for free
They don't pay the high cost of mental custody
I'll pay bail for a guarantee
Make space for me in the time yet to be
Excuse me (excuse me, mister)
Well, I've been waiting in line
And I'd like to buy some of your time
I've been saving up my life
What's your price? (Saving up my life)
So please excuse me, mister
You've got things all wrong
You make it feel like a crime
So don't confuse me, mister
I've known you for too long, boy
All I need is a little of your time
What should I do? I'm about to crack
And there's a force that comes over me
It's almost as if I'm tied to the tracks
I'm waiting for him to rescue me
The funny thing is, he's not going to come
He's not going to find me
This is a matter of a fact, the desire you lack
This is the way I guess it has to be
A Little of your time
I need a little of your time
Please, a little of your time, yeah
So please excuse me, mister
You've got things all wrong
You make it feel like a crime
So don't confuse me, mister
I've known you for too long boy
All I need is a little of your time
Ooh, I'm in line to buy time
I'm in line to buy time
I'm in line to
I'm in line to
Excuse me
Well, I've been waiting in line
Excuse me
Excuse me, mister
The lyrics to No Doubt's song "Excuse Me Mr." depict a sense of desperation and frustration from the perspective of a beggar trying to get the attention and time from the person they are singing to. The opening lyrics "I'm like a beggar with no luck, I'm holding signs up, On your street corner stops" set the tone for the rest of the song. The character is feeling ignored as they try to get this person's attention, who they address as "excuse me Mr."
The chorus repeats the plea for some of their time, as the character is "anxious, eager, willing" to pay whatever it takes to get this person's attention. However, the person they are singing to seems to be indifferent to their plight and "got things all wrong." The character feels that the person they are addressing is making it feel like a crime for them to ask for some of their time, when all they need is a little attention.
The bridge shows the character feeling like they are trapped, that they are tied to tracks waiting for someone to save them, but no one is coming. They still plead, "I need a little of your time" as they are "waiting in line" to buy some of this person's time, suggesting that they are not the only one trying to get their attention.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm like a beggar with no luck
I feel desperate and unlucky
I'm holding signs up
I'm trying to get your attention
On your street corner stops
I'm on the same street you're on
Like most you try not to see me
You're ignoring me like others do
You stare straight ahead
You refuse to acknowledge me
Ignore the responsibility
You don't want to help
Excuse me (excuse me Mr.)
I'm asking for your attention
I've been waiting in line
I've been patiently waiting for a chance
And I'd like to buy some of your time
I want your attention and interaction
I'm very anxious, eager, willing
I'm excited and ready to engage
What's your billing? (Anxious, eager, willing)
What do you require in exchange for your time?
So please excuse me Mr.
I'm sorry for interrupting you
You've got things all wrong
You've misunderstood my intentions
You make if fell like a crime
You're making me feel guilty for wanting your time
So don't confuse me Mr.
Please don't misinterpret my behavior
I've known you too long
I've been trying to get your attention for a while
All I need is a little of your time
I just want a moment of your attention
For most love comes for free
Other people get affection without effort
They don't pay the high cost
They don't have to work hard for it
Of mental custody
Of the emotional burden that comes with a relationship
I'll pay bail for a guarantee
I'm willing to make an effort for assurance
Make space for me
Give me a chance to be part of your life
In the time yet to be
In the future
What should I do
I don't know what to do
I'm about to crack
I'm close to breaking down
And there's a force
I feel an overwhelming pressure
That comes over me
That takes over me
It's almost as if I'm tied to the tracks
I feel like I'm trapped and can't move
And I'm waiting for him to rescue me
I'm hoping for someone to save me
The funny thing is
The ironic part is
He's not going to come
Nobody is going to help me
He's not going to find me
I have to take action myself
This is a matter of a fact, the desire you like
This is a fact, I want your attention
This is the way I guess it has to be,
This is how things have to happen
A Little of your time
I just need a moment of your attention
Please, a little of your time
I'm begging for your attention
I'm in line to buy time
I'm waiting for a chance
Excuse-me, excuse-me Mr.
I'm asking for your attention again
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Thomas Dumont, Gwen Stefani
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@AJtheEngiqueer
Lyrics
I'm like a beggar with no luck
I'm holding signs up on your street corner stops
Like most you try not to see me
Stare straight ahead, ignore the responsibility
Excuse me (excuse me, mister)
Well, I've been waiting in line
And I'd like to buy some of your time
I'm very anxious, eager, willing
What's your billing? (Anxious, eager, willing)
So please excuse me, mister
You've got things all wrong
You make it feel like a crime
So don't confuse me, mister
I've known you too long
All I need is a little of your time
Oh
For most, love comes for free
They don't pay the high cost of mental custody
I'll pay bail for a guarantee
Make space for me in the time yet to be
Excuse me (excuse me, mister)
Well, I've been waiting in line
And I'd like to buy some of your time
I've been saving up my life
What's your price? (Saving up my life)
So please excuse me, mister
You've got things all wrong
You make it feel like a crime
So don't confuse me, mister
I've known you for too long, boy
All I need is a little of your time
What should I do? I'm about to crack
And there's a force that comes over me
It's almost as if I'm tied to the tracks
I'm waiting for him to rescue me
The funny thing is, he's not going to come
He's not going to find me
This is a matter of a fact, the desire you lack
This is the way I guess it has to be
A Little of your time
I need a little of your time
Please, a little of your time, yeah
So please excuse me, mister
You've got things all wrong
You make it feel like a crime
So don't confuse me, mister
I've known you for too long boy
All I need is a little of your time
Ooh, I'm in line to buy time
I'm in line to buy time
I'm in line to
I'm in line to
Excuse me
Well, I've been waiting in line
Excuse me
Excuse me, mister
@evagiilbert
i love gwen’s control of her voice, it’s so unique and she uses it so well
@rebeccaspratling2865
Yes. She may not have a huge range but what she does with what she has is amazing. She uses her instrument well.
@h7opolo
exactly.
@TheWholeEntireCake
She’s got a voice for ska for sure! Perfect for the style. (And other styles, she’s done a couple different genres and succeeded at all).
@zditty83
Gwen is just an awesome lady. She is easily one of the best female frontmen of all time
@santelmo5222
Easily one of the best lead singers period!
@allysonmessina1785
+Zdawg1029 COMPLETELY AGREE, WAS JUST THINKING THAT! No doubt as a whole are incredible! Such a kick ass band, and will always be a classic!!
@johnhippisley9106
Brains00007 Do you call a girl 9th grader a Freshwomen?
@JohnBrown-pq9tj
@@johnhippisley9106 You're like a tiny child.
@melissajade65
Yes... standing ovation for this comment