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, progressions, and TAB
On the original recording of The Clash Should I Stay Or Should I Go, the chords are played on two guitars using different chord shapes.
Below, I give you TAB for the main part. Should you be the only guitarist in the band, this is what you want to play.
The main riff goes between the chords D and G5 (I – IV). This is what we hear in the intro and for the verses, here’s TAB.

Notice how the D is played with the top string first, then without the 3rd (top string) on the next two hits. Similarly, the G5 chord is only played from the root only on the first hit.
Keep this concept in mind when you progress to play Should I Stay Or Should I Go’s verse chords.

On the second line, we go between G5 and F. It looks like an F/C here but since the bass plays an F, we call this an F. Notice how this verse in many ways is a 12-bar blues.
Finally, the chorus. Here the drums play in double time. I’ve chosen to write the TAB using 16th notes below as if I went with the concept of double time it would have become a bit confusing. Here’s the TAB for the chorus.

Should I Stay Or Should I Go chords | Related pages
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The Clash
Punk rock legends The Clash formed in the late 70s and released their debut album within a year.
Their best tunes include I Fought The Law, London Calling, Should I Stay Or Should I Go, and Rock The Casbah.