🎵 About the Song
This is The Clash at their most deceptively simple — a three-chord riot disguised as a pop song. Released in 1982, Should I Stay or Should I Go became one of their biggest hits, even though it almost didn’t make the record. It’s got that raw London sneer and a bounce that’s irresistible on ukulele.
Written by guitarist Mick Jones, it’s basically a breakup song — half sarcastic, half sincere — about a volatile on-and-off relationship. But like all great Clash tracks, it’s also about frustration, rebellion, and having a laugh in the middle of chaos. The Spanish call-and-response vocals? Total studio joke that ended up staying in the final mix.
This one thrives on attitude more than accuracy. The original is loud, ragged, and spontaneous — so don’t overthink it. Keep your uke strumming snappy, sing like you’ve got something to prove, and channel your inner punk without worrying if your downstroke’s a bit messy. That’s the point.
🎸 Ukulele Playing Tips
- Chords: [D], [G], [Em], [A7] — easy shapes, fast changes.
- Strum: Straight downstrokes or D DU, very percussive. Mute lightly on beats 2 and 4 with the side of your palm.
- Tempo: Around 160 bpm — keep it driving, not frantic.
- For extra bite, accent every second downstroke. Punk rhythm is more about feel than precision.
- Vocals and rhythm should almost argue with each other — that’s the Clash way.
If your voice cracks on the high notes, perfect. Punk is allergic to polish.
🎧 Trivia You Can Drop Casually
- The call-and-response backing vocals were sung in Spanish by engineer Joe Ely, who improvised the translations on the spot.
- It re-charted in 1991 after being used in a Levi’s ad, giving The Clash their first UK No. 1 nearly a decade later.
- It’s since been reborn again thanks to Stranger Things — yep, it’s Will Byers’ theme tune in season one.
- The riff itself is pure Chuck Berry filtered through East London chaos — it’s the musical equivalent of a cheeky smirk.
🎤 Final Word
Play it like you’ve just kicked open the pub door with a uke in your hand. Strum hard, sing louder, and don’t worry if your neighbours start shouting along — that’s a win. This is punk stripped down to its bones: messy, joyful defiance.
It’s not about whether you “should stay or go,” it’s about owning the noise in between.
