Should I Stay or Should I Go – English Lyrics

• By: The Clash

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into The Clash's iconic punk rock anthem, "Should I Stay or Should I Go," a song that masterfully expresses the universal feeling of indecision. With its catchy riffs and unique blend of English and Spanish lyrics, this track offers a fantastic opportunity to engage with English vocabulary and conversational phrases related to dilemmas and relationships. Discover what makes this song a timeless classic and an energetic way to explore language through music.

[English]

(crowd cheering)

- Good evening, New York City.

How ya doing?

(crowd cheering)

Come on, Shea Stadium, you sound like you're half asleep!

Come on, let's hear ya! Andale!

(crowd cheering)

It's good to see a few people

aren't worried about a bit of rain.

You ain't worried about no rain, are ya?

(crowd cheering)

Anyway, what we got for you tonight is,

we ain't got no baseball, no baseball tonight.

You ain't got no football.

They're on strike!

(crowd cheering)

But what we have got for ya is a little bit

of what's going on in London at the moment.

So will you welcome all the way from Ladbroke Grove,

London W10, The Clash!

Come on!

(crowd cheering)

(upbeat rock music)

♪ Oh ♪

♪ Darlin', you got to let me know ♪

♪ Should I stay or should I go ♪

♪ If you say that you are mine ♪

♪ I'll be here 'till the day I die ♪

♪ Come on and let me know ♪

♪ Should I stay or should I go ♪

♪ It's always tease, tease, tease ♪

♪ You're happy when I'm on my knees ♪

♪ One day is fine, the next is black ♪

♪ So if you want me off your back ♪

♪ Come on and let me know ♪

♪ Should I stay or should I go ♪

♪ Should I stay or should I go now ♪

♪ Should I stay or should I go now ♪

♪ If I go, there will be trouble ♪

♪ And if I stay it will be double ♪

♪ So you've got to let me know ♪

♪ This indecision's buggin' me ♪

(band member singing in Spanish)

♪ If you don't want me, set me free ♪

(band member singing in Spanish)

♪ Exactly whom I'm supposed to be ♪

(band member singing in Spanish)

♪ Don't you remember where you met me ♪

(band member singing in Spanish)

♪ Come on and let me know ♪

(band member singing in Spanish)

♪ Should I cool it or should I blow ♪

(band member singing in Spanish)

♪ Whoa ♪

♪ Ha ♪

♪ Sing ♪

- Okay, white knight.

So what's the big solution?

♪ Whoa, whoa, whoa ♪

(upbeat rock music)

♪ Should I stay or should I go now ♪

(band member singing in Spanish)

♪ Should I stay or should I go now ♪

(band member singing in Spanish)

♪ If I go there will be trouble ♪

(band member singing in Spanish)

♪ And if I stay it will be double ♪

(band member singing in Spanish)

♪ So you got to let me know ♪

(band member singing in Spanish)

♪ Should I cool it or should I blow ♪

(band member singing in Spanish)

♪ Should I stay or should I go now ♪

(band member singing in Spanish)

♪ If I go there will be trouble ♪

(band member singing in Spanish)

♪ If I stay it will be double ♪

(band member singing in Spanish)

♪ So you got to let me know ♪

(band member singing in Spanish)

♪ Should I stay or should I go ♪

(crowd cheering)

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
stay /steɪ/ A1	verb - to remain in a place
go /ɡoʊ/ A1	verb - to move or leave
tease /tiːz/ A2	verb - to provoke or make fun of
happy /ˈhæpi/ A1	adjective - feeling or showing pleasure
knees /niːz/ A1	noun - the joint between the thigh and the lower leg
fine /faɪn/ A1	adjective - of good quality or condition
black /blæk/ A1	adjective - the darkest color
trouble /ˈtrʌbəl/ A1	noun - problems or difficulties
double /ˈdʌbəl/ A1	adjective - twice as much or many
indecision /ˌɪndɪˈsɪʒən/ B1	noun - the inability to decide
buggin /ˈbʌɡɪŋ/ B2	verb - to annoy or bother
free /friː/ A1	adjective - not confined or restricted
cool /kuːl/ A2	verb - to become or make less intense
blow /bloʊ/ A2	verb - to exhale or explode
remember /rɪˈmɛmbər/ A2	verb - to recall or keep in mind

Key Grammar Structures

• ♪ Darlin', you got to let me know ♪

  ➔ Modal verb 'got to' expressing obligation.

  ➔ The phrase 'got to' is an informal way of saying 'have to'. It indicates the speaker needs the listener to provide information. The word **'got to'** shows a strong need for a response.

• ♪ If you say that you are mine ♪

  ➔ First conditional structure (If + present simple, will + base verb) - although 'will' is implied.

  ➔ This sentence sets up a hypothetical situation. **'If you say'** introduces the condition, and the implied consequence is the speaker's commitment. The verb **'are'** is the present simple form of 'to be'.

• ♪ It's always tease, tease, tease ♪

  ➔ Repetition for emphasis; use of nouns as verbs (tease).

  ➔ The repetition of **'tease'** emphasizes the frustrating and repetitive nature of the relationship. Here, **'tease'** functions as a verb, despite being originally a noun.

• ♪ One day is fine, the next is black ♪

  ➔ Adjective use to describe emotional state ('black' representing sadness/despair).

  ➔ The color **'black'** is used metaphorically to represent a negative emotional state. This is a common poetic device. The contrast between **'fine'** and **'black'** highlights the instability of the relationship.

• ♪ If I go, there will be trouble ♪

  ➔ First conditional structure (If + present simple, will + base verb).

  ➔ This is a clear example of a first conditional sentence, expressing a likely consequence. **'If I go'** is the condition, and **'there will be trouble'** is the predicted result. The word **'trouble'** is a general noun.