Chords + Lyrics | Should I Stay Or Should I Go
Intro
| D G5 | D N.C | D G5 | D N.C |
| D G5 | D N.C | D G5 |
Aouh!
Verse 1
| D N.C | D G5 |
Darlin’ you got to let me know.
| D N.C | D G5 |
Should I stay or should I go?
| D N.C | G5 F |
If you say that you are mine.
| G5 N.C | D G5 |
I’ll be here ’til the end of time.
| D N.C | A |
So you got to let me know.
| A N.C | D G5 |
Should I stay or should I go?
Verse 2
It’s always tease tease tease.
You’re happy when I’m on my knees.
One day is fine and next is black.
So if you want me off your back.
Well come on and let me know.
Should I stay or should I go?
Chorus 1 (drums double time)
| D N.C | D G |
Should I stay or should I go now?
| D | D G |
Should I stay or should I go now?
| D | G F |
If I go there will be trouble.
| G | D G |
And if I stay it will be double.
| D | A | A D G |
So come on and let me know.
Verse 3 (normal time)
This indecision’s buggin’ me (esta indecisión me molesta).
If you don’t want me, set me free (Si no me quieres, librame).
Exactly whom I’m supposed to be (Dime! ¿Qué tengo ser?).
Don’t you know which clothes even fit me? (No sabes que ropas me queda).
Come on and let me know (Pero tienes que decir).
Should I cool it or should I blow? (¿Me debo ir o quedarme?).
Instrumental
| D N.C | D G5 | D N.C | D G5 |
Split
| D N.C | G5 F | G5 N.C | D G5 |
(Doble! ¿Me frío o lo soplo?)
| D N.C | A | A N.C | D G5 |
(Esperda. Rrattarrattarrattaa…)
Chorus 2 (double time)
| D N.C | D G |
Should I stay or should I go now? (Yo me enfrio o lo soplo).
| D | D G |
Should I stay or should I go now? (Yo me enfrio o lo soplo).
| D | G F |
If I go there will be trouble (Si me voy, va a haber peligro).
| G | D G |
And if I stay it will be double (Si me quedo, es doble).
| D | A |
So you gotta let me know (Pero que tienes que decir).
| A | D G |
Should I cool it or should I blow? (¿Me frío o lo soplo?).
Chorus 3 (as chorus 1)
Should I stay or should I go now? (¿Me frío o lo soplo?).
If I go there will be trouble (Si me voy, va a haber peligro).
And if I stay it will be double (Si me quedo, es doble).
So you gotta let me know (Pero que tienes que decir).
| A D G | D N.C |
Should I stay or should I go?
Should I Stay Or Should I Go Chords: Learn the Progressions and Structure
The original recording is played with two guitars using different chord shapes. However, if you are the only guitarist in the band, playing just the main part will work just fine.
Verse
The chords may seem simple at first, with the verse using stops as it moves from I – IV – I.
When we “go to the IV chord,” we move down a tone to the bIIIx chord (F). Then, we go to the V chord (A) before returning to I – IV again. In the key of D, this progression looks like this:
| D N.C | D G5 | D N.C | D G5 |
| D N.C | G5 F | G5 N.C | D G5 |
| D N.C | A | A N.C | D G5 |
Chorus
For the chorus, the chords are the same but without the stops and in a double-time feel – genius!
There’s TAB available for how to play the legendary intro and verse, as well as the double-time chorus.
Though it may only be a simple blues format tune with a small twist, to get it to sound just right, you need to hit the exact number of strings, and for that, you’ll need the TAB.
There’s also a chord analysis that suggests the song’s success lies in its use of tension, but this clearly isn’t true. When Should I Stay Or Should I Go was first released, it wasn’t even a hit (more on this below)!
Here’s a link to the TAB lesson: Should I Stay Or Should I Go – Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Once you’ve mastered the TAB and played along with the original recording, bring this chord chart to the gig as a handy reminder of Should I Stay Or Should I Go‘s chords and structure.
Should I Stay Or Should I Go Chord Chart | PDF + iReal Pro Download
Should you want to download this chart, here’s a PDF: Should I Stay Or Should I Go chord chart PDF.
This chord chart was created using iReal Pro, here’s a link to that file: Should I Stay Or Should I Go iReal Pro. Using this and the iRealPro app, you can change the key.
Should I Stay Or Should I Go TAB | Course Preview
In the course, you get TAB for all sections of Should I Stay or Should I Go.
As a preview, here’s the main riff you’ll play during the intro.
Should I Stay Or Should I Go wasn’t a hit
It’s strange to think that The Clash’s Should I Stay or Should I Go wasn’t a hit when it was first released in 1982. The band had been around for a long time, had numerous hits, and was well-established.
It’s especially surprising because the song became a worldwide favourite. This was largely due to its use in a 1991 Levi’s Jeans commercial.
Off the back of this, the label re-released the track, and it eventually charted in the top 5 worldwide.
Unfortunately, by that point, the band had already broken up.
Should I Stay Or Should I Go Chords: Continue Learning
Want to master this song? Check out the full TAB lesson here: Should I Stay Or Should I Go (The Clash) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Alternatively, here are five similar tunes you might enjoy:
