Should I Stay Or Should I Go | Chords + Lyrics
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
| D N.C | D G5 |
It’s always tease tease tease.
| D N.C | D G5 |
You’re happy when I’m on my knees.
| D N.C | G5 F |
One day is fine and next is black.
| G5 N.C | D G5 |
So if you want me off your back.
| D N.C | A |
Well come on and let me know.
| A N.C | D G5 |
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)
| D N.C | D G5 |
This indecision’s buggin’ me (esta indecisión me molesta).
| D N.C | D G5 |
If you don’t want me, set me free (Si no me quieres, librame).
| D N.C | G5 F |
Exactly whom I’m supposed to be (Dime! ¿Qué tengo ser?).
| G5 N.C | D G5 |
Don’t you know which clothes even fit me? (No sabes que ropas me queda).
| D N.C | A |
Come on and let me know (Pero tienes que decir).
| A N.C | D G5 |
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 (double time)
| D | D G |
Should I stay or should I go now? (¿Me frío 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 | D N.C |
Should I stay or should I go?
Should I Stay Or Should I Go’s chords and progressions
The original recording is played by two guitars using different chord shapes. However, playing just the main part like the original will work.
The chords are seemingly simple, the verse uses stops as it moves from I – IV – I.
When we “go to the IV chord”, we move down a tone to the bIIIx (an F). Finally, we go to the V chord (A) before we’re back to I – IV again. In the key of D, that’s:
| 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 |
For the chorus, the chords are the same, just without the stops and in a double-time feel – genius!
Members get TAB for how to play the legendary intro and verse, as well as playing the double-time chorus.
It may only be a simple blues format tune with a small twist but if you want it to sound just right, you must hit the exact number of strings and for that, you need TAB.
There’s also a chord analysis that will argue that the reason for its success is the use of tension although this is clearly not true, when Should I Stay Or Should I Go was released, it wasn’t even a hit (more on this below)!
Here’s a link to the complete lesson (members only): Should I Stay Or Should I Go chord analysis and TAB.
Become a member today and get unlimited access to all step-by-step guitar courses, TAB for the songbook, the Self-Eliminating Practice Routine, and the eBook Spytunes Method.
Should I Stay Or Should I Go wasn’t a hit!
It’s a bit strange to think that when The Clash released Should I Stay Or Should I Go in 1982, it wasn’t a hit.
The band had been going for a long time, had many hits, and was well-established.
I say it’s strange because this is a worldwide known tune. The reason for its fame is that in 1991 it was used in a Levi’s Jeans commercial.
On the back of this, the label re-released it and now it charted in the top 5 worldwide.
Unfortunately, by now the band had already broken up.
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