Should I Stay Or Should I Go - wikipedia Should I Stay Or Should I Go `` Should I Stay or Should I Go '' Single by The Clash from the album Combat Rock B - side `` Inoculated City '' ( 1982 ) `` Rush '' ( 1991 ) Released 10 June 1982 Format 7 '' single cassette Recorded 1981 Genre Punk rock arena rock Length 3 : 06 Label Epic 14 - 03006 Songwriter ( s ) Topper Headon Mick Jones Paul Simonon Joe Strummer Producer ( s ) The Clash The Clash singles chronology `` Know Your Rights '' ( 1982 ) `` Should I Stay or Should I Go '' ( 1982 ) `` Rock the Casbah '' ( 1982 ) `` Know Your Rights '' ( 1982 ) `` Should I Stay or Should I Go '' ( 1982 ) `` Rock the Casbah '' ( 1982 ) The Clash reissued singles chronology `` Return to Brixton '' ( 1991 ) Return to Brixton 1991 `` Should I Stay or Should I Go '' ( rerelease ) ( 1991 ) String Module Error : Match not found1991 `` Rock the Casbah '' ( rerelease ) ( 1991 ) String Module Error : Match not found1991 Music video `` Should I Stay or Should I Go '' on YouTube `` Should I Stay or Should I Go '' is a song by the English punk rock band the Clash, from their album Combat Rock. It was written in 1981 and featured Mick Jones on lead vocals. It became the band 's only number - one single on the UK Singles Chart, a decade after it was originally released. In November 2004, it was ranked at 228 on `` Rolling Stone 's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time '' list. In 2009 it was ranked 42nd on VH1 's program 100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs. Many rumours have arisen about the song 's content, such as Jones ' impending dismissal from the Clash or the tempestuous personal relationship between Jones and American singer Ellen Foley. Should I Stay Or Should I Go ' was thought to be written by Jones about Foley, who sang the backing vocals on Meatloaf 's Bat Out of Hell LP. However, Jones himself said : It was n't about anybody specific and it was n't pre-empting my leaving The Clash. It was just a good rockin ' song, our attempt at writing a classic... When we were just playing, that was the kind of thing we used to like to play. -- Mick Jones, 1991 The Spanish backing vocals were sung by Joe Strummer and Joe Ely : On the spur of the moment I said ' I 'm going to do the backing vocals in Spanish '... We needed a translator so Eddie Garcia, the tape operator, called his mother in Brooklyn Heights and read her the lyrics over the phone and she translated them. But Eddie and his mum are Ecuadorian, so it 's Ecuadorian Spanish that me and Joe Ely are singing on the backing vocals. -- Joe Strummer, 1991 Contents 1 Releases 2 Personnel 2.1 `` Should I Stay or Should I Go '' 2.2 `` Inoculated City '' 3 Charts 3.1 Original release 3.2 Reissue 3.3 Year - end charts 3.4 Download 4 In popular culture 5 See also 6 References Releases The single was reissued several times. It was first reissued in 1982, with a different cover as a double A-side with `` Straight to Hell '' and with `` Cool Confusion '' as its B - side. It was reissued again in 1983, with `` First Night Back in London '' on side two, and then for a third time in 1991, with `` Rush '' by Mick Jones ' group Big Audio Dynamite II as a double A-side, with a remix of `` Rush '' as its B - side ( see the table below ). Live recording of the song was released as a part of the album, Live at Shea Stadium, which featured a concert on 13 October 1982 in New York. The song 's music video from that performance was included in DVD The Clash Live : Revolution Rock. Both disks were released on 6 October 2008. The single has had a huge resurgence with it being featured in the Netflix thriller Stranger Things in 2016 and appears on the Sony Music release of the soundtrack that features songs from both season 1 and 2 Year B - side Format Label Country Note 1982 CBS logo etched into vinyl 45 rpm 7 '' vinyl Epic ENR - 03571 USA One Sided Single - Epic 's Get the Hit - Special Low Price 1982 `` Cool Confusion '' 45 rpm 12 '' vinyl Epic 07 5P - 223 JP -- 1982 `` Straight to Hell '' ( Edit ) 45 rpm 12 '' vinyl CBS CBS A13 2646 UK -- 1982 `` Straight to Hell '' ( Edit ) 45 rpm 7 '' vinyl CBS CBS AII 2646 UK Picture disc 1982 `` Inoculated City '' 45 rpm 7 '' vinyl Epic 14 - 03006 USA 10 June 1982 1982 `` First Night Back in London '' 45 rpm 7 '' vinyl Epic 34 - 03061 USA Released on 20 July 1982 1982 `` Straight to Hell '' 45 rpm 7 '' vinyl CBS CBS A 2646 UK Released on 17 September 1982 `` Cool Confusion '' 45 rpm 7 '' vinyl Epic 34 - 03547 USA Released on 27 January 1983 1991 `` Rush ( Dance Mix ) '' ( Big Audio Dynamite II ) `` Protex Blue '' ( The Clash ) 45 rpm 12 '' vinyl CBS / Sony UK A-side `` Should I Stay or Should I Go '' ( The Clash ) `` Rush '' ( Big Audio Dynamite II ) Personnel `` Should I Stay or Should I Go '' Mick Jones -- lead vocals, lead guitar Joe Strummer -- backing vocals, rhythm guitar Paul Simonon -- backing vocals, bass guitar Topper Headon -- drums Joe Ely -- backing vocals `` Inoculated City '' Mick Jones -- vocals, lead guitars, sound effects Joe Strummer -- lead guitars Paul Simonon -- bass guitar Topper Headon -- drums Charts Original release Chart ( 1982 -- 83 ) Peak position Australia ( Kent Music Report ) 37 Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) 40 Ireland ( IRMA ) 16 UK Singles ( Official Charts Company ) 17 US Billboard Hot 100 45 US Billboard Top Tracks 13 US Cash Box 63 Reissue Chart ( 1991 -- 92 ) Peak position Austria ( Ö3 Austria Top 40 ) 5 Belgium ( Ultratop 50 Flanders ) France ( SNEP ) 25 Germany ( Official German Charts ) 5 Ireland ( IRMA ) Netherlands ( Dutch Top 40 ) 6 Netherlands ( Single Top 100 ) New Zealand ( Recorded Music NZ ) Norway ( VG - lista ) Sweden ( Sverigetopplistan ) 6 Switzerland ( Schweizer Hitparade ) UK Singles ( Official Charts Company ) Year - end charts Chart ( 1992 ) Position New Zealand ( Recorded Music NZ ) 17 Download Chart ( 2012 ) Peak position France ( SNEP ) 165 Chart ( 2013 ) Peak position France ( SNEP ) 152 In popular culture The song was used in a Levi 's jeans commercial in 1991 and was reissued as a single, which reached number one on the UK Singles Chart. The song 's opening guitar riff was used in One Direction 's 2012 hit single, `` Live While We 're Young '', which caused controversy. `` Should I Stay or Should I Go '' features heavily in the Netflix sci - fi drama Stranger Things. The song has shown up multiple times in the series and is a significant part of the storyline. This song is also featured in the widely popular Netflix TV show, Stranger Things. See also Ronald Reagan in music References Jump up ^ `` The Brexit Vote Is the Perfect Excuse to Revisit This Song by The Clash ''. Time. 23 June 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2017. Jump up ^ Rowley, Scott ( 13 September 2017 ). `` The Clash Albums Ranked From Worst To Best -- The Ultimate Guide ''. Classic Rock. Retrieved 29 September 2017. Jump up ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. `` The Clash -- Combat Rock ''. AllMusic. Retrieved 29 September 2017. Jump up ^ Roberts, David ( 2006 ). British Hit Singles & Albums ( 19th ed. ). London : Guinness World Records Limited. pp. 524 -- 5. ISBN 1 - 904994 - 10 - 5. Jump up ^ `` The RS 500 Greatest Songs of All Time ( 1 - 500 ) ''. Archived from the original on 25 October 2006... Rolling Stone. 29 December 2004. Jump up ^ `` 100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs ''. Spreadit.org. 1 January 2009. Archived from the original on 12 February 2009. Retrieved 27 February 2009. ^ Jump up to : `` The Uncut Crap -- Over 56 Things You Never Knew About The Clash ''. NME. Vol. 3. London. 16 March 1991. ISSN 0028 - 6362. OCLC 4213418. ' Should I Stay Or Should I Go ' was written by Mick about American singer Ellen Foley, who sang the backing vocals on Meatloaf 's Bat Out Of Hell LP. Jump up ^ Clash on Broadway Box Set liner notes ( Media notes ). Sony Music Entertainment Inc. Jump up ^ Moser, Margaret ( 22 May 2000 ). `` Music : Lubbock Calling ( Austin Chronicle. 05 - 22 - 00 ) ''. The Austin Chronicle. Weekly Wire. Retrieved 22 November 2007. I ran into them accidentally in New York when they were cutting ' Should I Stay or Should I Go ' and Strummer said, ' Hey, help me with my Spanish. ' So me and Strummer and the Puerto Rican engineer sat down and translated the lyrics into the weirdest Spanish ever. Then we sang it all. When you listen to ' Should I Stay or Should I Go, ' there 's a place in the song where Mick says, ' Split. ' Me and Strummer had been yelling out the Spanish background lyrics and we had snuck up behind him as he was recording. We were behind a curtain, jumped out at him in the middle of singing, and scared the shit out of him. He looks over and gives us the dirtiest look and says, ' Split ! ' They kept that in the final version. Jump up ^ `` Albums by The Clash ''. Rate Your Music. Retrieved 31 December 2007. Jump up ^ The Clash 's official music video for ' Should I Stay Or Should I Go ' on YouTube Jump up ^ `` New Live Clash Album And DVD ''. Ultimate-Guitar.com. 8 June 2008. Retrieved 16 September 2015. Jump up ^ `` Forum -- ARIA Charts : Special Occasion Charts -- CHART POSITIONS PRE 1989 ''. Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 20 October 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2014. Jump up ^ `` Top RPM Singles : Issue 6196. '' RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 15 July 2013. ^ Jump up to : `` The Irish Charts -- Search Results -- Should I Stay or Should I Go ''. Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 15 July 2013. Jump up ^ `` Official Singles Chart Top 100 ''. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 July 2013. ^ Jump up to : `` The Clash -- Awards ''. AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 15 July 2013. Jump up ^ `` CASH BOX Top 100 Singles -- Week ending MARCH 26, 1983 ''. Archived from the original on 13 September 2012... Cash Box magazine. Jump up ^ `` Austriancharts.at -- The Clash -- Should I Stay Or Should I Go '' ( in German ). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 16 June 2014. Jump up ^ `` Ultratop.be -- The Clash -- Should I Stay Or Should I Go '' ( in Dutch ). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 16 June 2014. ^ Jump up to : `` Lescharts.com -- The Clash -- Should I Stay Or Should I Go '' ( in French ). Les classement single. Retrieved 16 June 2014. Jump up ^ `` Offiziellecharts.de -- The Clash -- Should I Stay Or Should I Go ''. GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 16 June 2014. Jump up ^ `` Nederlandse Top 40 -- The Clash - Should I Stay Or Should I Go '' ( in Dutch ). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 16 June 2014. Jump up ^ `` Dutchcharts.nl -- The Clash -- Should I Stay Or Should I Go '' ( in Dutch ). Single Top 100. Retrieved 16 June 2014. Jump up ^ `` Charts.org.nz -- The Clash -- Should I Stay Or Should I Go ''. Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 16 June 2014. Jump up ^ `` Norwegiancharts.com -- The Clash -- Should I Stay Or Should I Go ''. VG - lista. Retrieved 16 June 2014. Jump up ^ `` Swedishcharts.com -- The Clash -- Should I Stay Or Should I Go ''. Singles Top 100. Retrieved 16 June 2014. Jump up ^ `` Swisscharts.com -- The Clash -- Should I Stay Or Should I Go ''. Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 16 June 2014. ^ Jump up to : `` Official Singles Chart Top 100 ''. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 July 2013. Jump up ^ `` End of Year Charts 1992 ''. Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 3 December 2017. Jump up ^ Zadeh, Joe ( 4 August 2011 ). `` Jean Spirit : The Music Behind Levi 's Adverts ''. Clash. Retrieved 8 August 2017. Jump up ^ Bychawski, Adam ( 29 September 2012 ). `` One Direction respond to claims they ripped off The Clash on ' Live While We 're Young ' ''. NME. Retrieved 1 August 2016. Jump up ^ Gidick, Sarah ( 3 August 2016 ). `` 5 Things to Know About Winona Ryder 's Stylish Comeback Show, ' Stranger Things ' ''. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 22 August 2016. Jump up ^ Reed, Ryan ( 1 August 2016 ). `` Hear ' Stranger Things ' - Inspired Mixtape Featuring Smiths, Clash ''. Rolling Stone. Retrieved 22 August 2016. Jump up ^ Minsker, Evan ( 10 August 2016 ). `` Netflix 's Stranger Things Soundtrack Detailed ''. Pitchfork. Retrieved 11 February 2017. Preceded by `` Do the Bartman '' by The Simpsons UK number - one single 9 March 1991 -- 16 March 1991 ( 2 weeks ) Succeeded by `` The Stonk '' by Hale and Pace The Clash Joe Strummer Mick Jones Paul Simonon Topper Headon Terry Chimes Rob Harper Keith Levene Pete Howard Nick Sheppard Vince White Studio albums The Clash Give ' Em Enough Rope London Calling Sandinista ! Combat Rock Cut the Crap Live albums From Here to Eternity : Live Live at Shea Stadium Compilations Black Market Clash The Story of the Clash, Volume 1 1977 Revisited Clash on Broadway The Singles ( 1991 ) Super Black Market Clash The Essential Clash Singles Box The Singles ( 2007 ) Sound System The Clash Hits Back 5 Album Studio Set Extended plays Capital Radio The Cost of Living Singles `` White Riot '' `` Remote Control '' `` Complete Control '' `` Clash City Rockers '' `` ( White Man ) In Hammersmith Palais '' `` Tommy Gun '' `` English Civil War '' `` I Fought the Law '' `` Groovy Times '' `` London Calling '' `` Clampdown '' `` Train in Vain '' `` Bankrobber '' `` The Call Up '' `` Hitsville U.K. '' `` The Magnificent Seven '' `` This Is Radio Clash '' `` Know Your Rights '' `` Should I Stay or Should I Go '' `` Rock the Casbah '' `` Straight to Hell '' `` This Is England '' `` Return to Brixton '' Films Rude Boy The Clash : Westway to the World Joe Strummer : The Future Is Unwritten London Town Related Lists Discography Songs The Clash on film Members Musical acts The 101ers London SS Public Image Ltd Big Audio Dynamite Havana 3am The Latino Rockabilly War The Pogues The Mescaleros Carbon / Silicon The Good, the Bad & the Queen Gorillaz Persons Gary Barnacle Caroline Coon Tymon Dogg Mikey Dread Ellen Foley Futura 2000 Mickey Gallagher Don Letts Ray Lowry Sandy Pearlman Bill Price Bernard Rhodes Pennie Smith Ray Staff Guy Stevens Kosmo Vinyl Norman Watt - Roy Book Portal Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Should_I_Stay_or_Should_I_Go&oldid=819348757 '' Categories : 1982 songs 1982 singles 1991 singles Epic Records singles The Clash songs Multilingual songs UK Singles Chart number - one singles Cultural depictions of Ronald Reagan Hidden categories : Use dmy dates from June 2014 Use British English from November 2011 Music infoboxes with Module : String errors Music infoboxes with deprecated parameters Articles with hAudio microformats Singlechart usages for Canadatopsingles Singlechart called without artist Singlechart called without song Singlechart usages for Ireland2 Singlechart usages for UK Singlechart usages for Austria Singlechart usages for Flanders Singlechart usages for France Singlechart usages for Germany2 Singlechart usages for Dutch40 Singlechart usages for Dutch100 Singlechart usages for New Zealand Singlechart usages for Norway Singlechart usages for Sweden Singlechart usages for Switzerland Singlechart usages for United Kingdom Singlechart making named ref Talk Contents About Wikipedia Ελληνικά Español Français Italiano Nederlands 日本 語 Polski Русский Suomi Edit links This page was last edited on 8 January 2018, at 21 : 55. 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Question: who wrote i'm going straight to hell
Answer: Topper Headon