Mrs. O’Kelly was my junior English teacher in high school. One day when I was entering class, I accidentally bumped into her. I said, “Excuse me.” She said, “You leaving?” I said, “No, why do you ask?”
She then pointed out that the correct phrase for an infraction is “Pardon me.” and “Excuse me” to provide an exit. The lesson stuck.
When I began writing fun songs at Southwest Airlines, I couldn’t resist writing and recording this song on the distinction between *Pardon Me* and *Excuse Me*.
