Should I Stay or Should I Go?

by

The Clash

Album: Combat Rock      Released: 1982

US Chart: 45     UK Chart: 17

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Songfacts:  You can leave comments about the song at the bottom of the page.

Mick Jones sings the words in English, and Joe Strummer echoes with Spanish lyrics. Strummer decided to sing the backing vocals in Spanish on the spur of the moment along with Texan country rocker Joe Ely. However he needed someone to do the translation so Eddie Garcia, the sound engineer, called his mother in Brooklyn Heights and got her to translate them over the phone. Eddie's mother is Ecuadorian, so Joe Strummer and Joe Ely ended up singing in Ecuadorian Spanish. (thanks, Edward Pearce - Ashford, Kent, England and Rainyhouse - Spanish Fork, UT)

This was re-released as a single in February 1991 after it was used in a Levi's jeans television ad. It went to #1 in the UK, but didn't chart in the US.

The line, "If you want me off your back" was originally "On your front or round the back." They decided to change it just before the album was release, but it was too late to make changes to the packaging, so some early copies showed the early lyric. This last minute change created a lot of friction between Mick Jones and Joe Strummer, and may have been the start of the demise of the band. It says in Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs, "The hell-bent chorus hints at the end: At the time, none of us were really talking to each other, said Paul Simonon. The original four were soon no more."

Mick Jones in 1000 UK #1 Hits by Jon Kutner and Spencer Leigh said, "Should I Stay Or Should I Go? wasn't about anything specific and it wasn't pre-empting my leaving The Clash. It was just a good rocking song, our attempt at writing a classic." (thanks, Edward Pearce - Ashford, Kent, England, for above 2)

In a 2009 Rolling Stone article on The Clash, they state that Jones wrote this song about his girlfriend Ellen Foley, who acted on the TV series Night Court and sang with Meat Loaf on "Paradise By the Dashboard Light."

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Comments:

awesome song.. but i don't think it beats london calling...... but ppl...clash roxxxxxxxxxx
- rahul, chennai, India

This was never my fav clash song, but if you get a chance, listen to the live version when they opened for The Who (its on UTube,) Mick sings it slightly differently, that version works better for me
- Brad, Long Island, NY

I belive there are political overtones in the lyrics, but this song brings back memories of a man and a woman confused over a new relationship when someone else is in the middle.
- Jim, Denver, CO

It was used in the rugrats movie "... go wild"
- Jaimye-leah, birmingham, England

good song, but waaaay over-hyped in the us.
- izzy, buffalo, NY

The Spansish in the Second verse translates to "This indecision I bother me If not my you want, free me Dûme quû? I have to be Know that clothes remains me? That you have me that to say I should go or to remain me?."
- Mike, Germantown, MD

To justify the ungrammatical Spanish, Joe Stummer said that the Spanish in this song is "Clash Spannish [sic]", which can also be heard in "Spanish Bombs"
- Luke, worthing, England

My first language is Spanish, but I didn't have any idea the backing vocals were in Spanish!
- Jo-C, Lima, Peru

Quote from "Pedantic Wit, Madison, WI": "To dispel the rumor about the Mick Jones/Joe Strummer break-up theories, I believe that the first line uttered contains a vital clue... Does it seem likely that bandmates would refer to each other as "darling?" I've heard, Mr.Wit, and bear in mind this is just something I HEARD, that sometimes, when songwriters write songs, they do not always exactley what they mean. Now, one fine example of this, is that when singers mention "Pot" they are not infact talking about Pots, but rather the drug Marijuana. Firstly, it's entirely possible that "Darling" could be used between two band-mates especially ones who had been close friends for many years. Secondly, the clash often had songs that were about more than one thing.
- Shaft, Glenville, WV

this song is so awesome!!!
- clare, liverpool, England

My mistake - this was not the song Joe Strummer didn't like. It was Train In Vain
- Sus, Copenhagen, Denmark

This song could potentially have a lot of meanings, but the explanation from Mick Jones was always that it was about his relationship with singer Ellen Foley. It is said that Joe Strummer was not very fond of this song either and not very pleased to be playing it on-stage. I dunno.
- Sus, Copenhagen, Denmark

Great Clash Song. I think its about deciding whether to stay in the band or not. its number 228 on the rolling stones list of the greatest songs ever.
- Andy, Tualatin, OR

They used this song for one of the Rugrat's movie. I can't remember if it was "Rugrats in Paris" or "The Rugrats go Wild", I can't remember, it was a long time ago. I think I remember Angelica was singing this song one night with a bunch of sumo wreslers..
- Ferris, Ohio, OH

The song was released in 1982. The lyrics have double meaning...1. It's about US involvement in El Salvador...and can be viewed as a love song.
- collin, boston, MA

I heard that the song was about sex. Just listen to the song and think dirty. Only what I heard, maybe my friends are pervs.
- Kelly, Nanaimo, Canada

Alternate interpretation: This song can also possibly be about UKs partisipation in the EU. It was released the same year the UK became a member of the EU.
- Are Fridtjof, LillestrÃ?m, Norway

"Should I Stay Or Should I Go" was written by Mick Jones about American singer Ellen Foley, who sang the backing vocals on Meatloaf's Bat Out Of Hell LP. (Source: NME Magazine 3/16/91)
- rainyhouse, Spanish Fork , UT

One needs only to examine the lyrics of this pop song to discover the intent of the author. I believe that it is a candid commentary on human nature - specifically that which is concerned with meaningful relationships pertaining to the opposite sex. To dispel the rumor about the Mick Jones/Joe Strummer break-up theories, I believe that the first line uttered contains a vital clue... Does it seem likely that bandmates would refer to each other as "darling?" In my opinion, the realization that this is about a relationship-gone-wrong is the key to understanding the song. For example, take the lyric "If I go there will be trouble, But if I stay it will be double" - this hints at the all too common tendency of those in a relationship riddled with turbulence to feel that, on one hand, if they "go" then they must face the possiblity that the other person may find someone else. On the other hand, however, the same person realizes that if they "stay" things will continue to get worse. Therefore, it is my belief that this song is a commentary on the not-uncommon sentiment that goes as follows: "I don't really want to stay in this relationship, but I don't really want to see her/him with anyone else."
- Pedantic Wit, Madison, WI

this was one of the best clash songs they ever made not the best but one of the best and it is a shame that it took a levi commercial for people to see that it is a great song and that people are now noticing it know from a rugrats movie come on people know your music know what is good
- kai, pleasent view, UT

Can you find the hiccup in this song?
- Eduardo, Baltimore, MD

This was the Clash's only number one hit, and was not a hit untill it was re-released after the levi's comercial. When Mick Jones came under scrutiny about using the song in a comercial, he reasoned by saying that levi's were on of the great rock and roll accesories.
- Jackie, Fairfield, CT

my dad, whos from Guatemala(REPRESENT!)isn't really into da whole "punk" thing but when he used to live in Cali when he first came to da states he liked sum of The Clash's songs, oblivious of knowing they were a punk band, just thought i'd share dat cause i thought it was funy...
- Erick, The Woodlands, TX

This song was a big hit again when it was used in the movie "Rugrats Go Wild!" in a scene where Angelica Pickles and Debbie Thornberry sing the song while driving in the Thornberrys' RV.
- Patrick, Conyers, GA

This song is so good. My theory is it's about someone who's been cheated on. He's asking if he should stay or break up/divorce. The line should I cool it or should I go means should I just let it go or should I get really angry and leave.
- Jason Lee, New York, NY

Romoured that the song was a question to Joe, who did indeed later let Jonesey go.
- Matt, London, England

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