The song was written in 1981 by , who also performed the lead vocals. Its musical style blends the raw energy of punk with elements of rockabilly and power-pop.
: Mick Jones himself has frequently stated it was not about anything specific, but rather a simple attempt to write a "classic rocking song". The Clash – Should I Stay or Should I Go
: Joe Strummer and Texan musician Joe Ely contributed the Spanish translations. These were not literal; they used a mix of "Tex-Mex," Castilian, and Ecuadorian Spanish (the latter gathered via a phone call to the sound engineer's mother). The song was written in 1981 by ,
While often analyzed as a reflection of a personal or professional crossroads, the song's true inspiration remains ambiguous: : Joe Strummer and Texan musician Joe Ely
: It is widely speculated to be about Jones' relationship with singer Ellen Foley .
The recording sessions at in New York were marked by playful experimentation: