"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Darling, you got to let me know
Should I stay or should I go?
If you say that you are mine
I'll be here 'til the end of time
So you got to let me know
Should I stay or should I go?
It's always tease, tease, tease
You're happy when I'm on my knees
One day it's fine and next it's black
So if you want me off your back
Well, come on and let me know
Should I stay or should I go?
Should I stay or should I go now?
Should I stay or should I go now?
If I go, there will be trouble
And if I stay it will be double
So come on and let me know
This indecision's bugging me (esta indecisión me molesta)
If you don't want me, set me free (si no me quieres, líbrame)
Exactly whom I'm supposed to be (dime, ¿qué tengo ser?)
Don't you know which clothes even fit me? (¿Sabes qué ropa me queda?)
Come on and let me know (me tienes que decir)
Should I cool it or should I blow? (¿Me debo ir o quedarme?)
Split
(¿Soplo, enfrío lo soplo?)
Should I stay or should I go now? (¿Enfrío o lo soplo?)
Should I stay or should I go now? (¿Enfrío 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 será el doble)
So you gotta let me know (me tienes que decir)
Should I cool it or should I blow? (¿Enfrío o lo soplo?)
Should I stay or should I go now? (¿Enfrío 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 será el doble)
So you gotta let me know me tienes que decir (me tienes que decir)
Should I stay or should I go?
Should I stay or should I go?
If you say that you are mine
I'll be here 'til the end of time
So you got to let me know
Should I stay or should I go?
It's always tease, tease, tease
You're happy when I'm on my knees
One day it's fine and next it's black
So if you want me off your back
Well, come on and let me know
Should I stay or should I go?
Should I stay or should I go now?
Should I stay or should I go now?
If I go, there will be trouble
And if I stay it will be double
So come on and let me know
This indecision's bugging me (esta indecisión me molesta)
If you don't want me, set me free (si no me quieres, líbrame)
Exactly whom I'm supposed to be (dime, ¿qué tengo ser?)
Don't you know which clothes even fit me? (¿Sabes qué ropa me queda?)
Come on and let me know (me tienes que decir)
Should I cool it or should I blow? (¿Me debo ir o quedarme?)
Split
(¿Soplo, enfrío lo soplo?)
Should I stay or should I go now? (¿Enfrío o lo soplo?)
Should I stay or should I go now? (¿Enfrío 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 será el doble)
So you gotta let me know (me tienes que decir)
Should I cool it or should I blow? (¿Enfrío o lo soplo?)
Should I stay or should I go now? (¿Enfrío 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 será el doble)
So you gotta let me know me tienes que decir (me tienes que decir)
Should I stay or should I go?
Lyrics submitted by aebassist, edited by InbisibleMan
Should I Stay Or Should I Go Lyrics as written by Mick Jones Joe Strummer
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I love The Clash but surely they answer their own question?! If they stay there will be trouble, and if I go it will be double. Therefore they should definitley stay to avoid a double amount of trouble. Simple as that dudes. 'Nuff said! Long live The Clash!
@Meejoir but in one chorus or verse it says the opposite " if I go tgere will be trouble, but if I say it will be double" I think it's about just being stuck in a relationship where the other person switches it on and off again, where you want them but also don't want the constant on off.
I recently read the Clash bio Passion is a Fashion and this song is about Mick's relationship with Ellen Foley. The spanish was a last minute decision by Joe when they were recording. They had a friend of a friend or something translate. They put it in what Joe Strummer referred to as Clash Spanish. And I don't think anyone can deny that this song has one of the best hooks ever.
@cardcheat Yes but the translations are all messed up. Some parts don't even have any meaning in Spanish. It's all gibberish.
@cardcheat Maybe so, but the song is basically a modern version of that old time classic "Lupe Lu". Mick's other vocal track on the Combat Rock LP ("Inoculated City") is actually more interesting (and certainly more in line with their original vision as a band), as far as I am concerned.
One of the best songs ever made. Bow down to the Clash
Classic tune...this is the perfect song for those moments when a woman can't make up her mind about wanting or not wanting her man. Without a doubt, this song is a masterpiece. I really cherish it.
this song kicks ass!
Hahaha does no one find the Spanish weird? Do you all think he purposedly translated it like crap to say he didn't really care as much as it sounded about the relationship? It seems kinda half-assed for Joe Strummer to not hve done his research. I agree Combat Rock was not the greatest, but this is a song I like to dance to.
Since no one's commented I will. "Should I cool it or should I blow? Yo me frio o lo soplo" Okay, frio means cool, but you don't use it like that when you say "cool it man" or something. That word is only used when you say "it's cold" And soplo means "to blow" like when you blow at something. You never use it when you say you're gonna leave.
"Si me voy va a ver peligro" "Si me quedo es doble" are two sentences that don't make any sense in the Spanish language. "Sabes que ropa me queda" is another one that makes more sense, but it's horrible Spanish. They're translated word by word correctly, but once in context like that they don't make sense. Wrong sentence structure and bad use of tenses. Oh by the way, it's Mexico Spanish not Spain Spanish.
Hah, it's funny how you guys try to put the Spanish in and can't write it... a lot of those words in the lyrics don't even exist. Anyway, whenever this song comes on my friend thinks Joe's Spanish is hilarious.
is good that somebody touch the español stuff, any way. the senteces "Si me voy va a ver peligro" "Si me quedo es doble" they have sence,he say that if he stay is gonna be bad, but if he leaves is gonna be worst. and if you read all the spanish senteces well, they have perfect sense, is just that are bad translated. And why TaLeNa824 says that that is español mejicano, it may be latinoamericano, and to avoid critics i live in Colombia so i speak a perfect ESPAÑOL
@CUPRAcing Wikipedia says they were translated by an Ecuatorian friend of the group by the way. And I agree the translation is poorly done.
wait, I ment that the other way around
well i have always related to this song in situation where you still really like someone a lot but the relationship isn't what you want it to be or think it should be or expected. you know you can't stay if it doesn't improve, but at the same time you don't want to break up because you know you'll miss the person even thoguh they didn't treat you that great.
politically, its funny how it can be applied to the situation in iraq. i actually used the song sort of tongue-in-cheekly in a presentation for my government class about the iraq war and it fit very nicely
wow.. why hasnt anyone had a comment on this masterpeice yet? this is a brilliant clash song absolutly BRILLIANT