[Verse 1]
I tried my best, I gave my all
Sometimes my best wasn't good enough for you
Sometimes I let you go
Sometimes I hurt you so
I know that I can be the meanest person in the world
[Chorus]
So I apologize to you
And to anyone else that I hurt too
I may not be a perfect soul
But I can learn self-control
So pardon me, pardon me
Pardon me, my friend
[Verse 2]
I never thought that anyone
Was more important than the plans I made
But now I feel the shame
There's no one else to blame
For all the broken hearts are scattered on the field of war
[Chorus]
So I apologize to you
And to anyone else that I hurt too
I may not be a perfect soul
But I can learn self-control
So pardon me, pardon me
Pardon me, my friend
[Solo]
[Bridge]
Sometimes I let you go
Sometimes I hurt you so
I know that I can be the meanest person in the world
[Chorus]
So I apologize to you
And to anyone else that I hurt too
I may not be a perfect soul
But I can learn self-control
And in my heart, I feel it's true
So I will be there with you
So pardon me, pardon me
Pardon me, my friend
(I really want a friend)
Pardon me, my friend
(I really want a friend)
Pardon me, my friend
(I really want a friend)
Pardon Me was written by Rivers Cuomo.
Pardon Me was produced by Chad Bamford & Rick Rubin.
According to Brian Bell in 2005:
It’s a personal lyric but it’s extremely universal, because, you know, it’s hard to say ‘I’m sorry’ in any sense, it’s hard to admit fault, and I just think it’s a song for all guys that don’t know how to express themselves, so that they can at least sing that lyric...