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My Gen X Playlist: Should I Stay or Should I Go? – The Clash

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Daily writing prompt
Tell us about a time when you felt out of place.
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I used to worry about attending gatherings and being severely underdressed. If I received an invite and the attire was ambiguous, my mind would begin to race. To be safe, I typically erred to be slightly overdressed. Once you arrive and survey the lay of the land, it’s always an easier transition to dress down than to try to adjust up.

This fear eased over the years. Fortunately, I live in a part of the country that leans toward the casual side. At gatherings, attire usually runs the entire gambit. I’ve also attended events with some more casual than the rest, yet they didn’t let this spoil their evening. I admire that. At the end of the day, nobody really cares.

Out of curiosity, I looked over a list of phobias to see if I wasn’t alone. Can this be defined medically? That would be a nicer explanation than just calling myself crazy. Unfortunately, I didn’t see any listed, but discovered a number of conditions that I’m thankful I don’t have.

  • Ephebiphobia – fear of teenagers
  • Eisoptrophobia – fear of mirrors
  • Alektorophobia – fear of chicken hens
  • Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia – fear of long words (ironic, huh?)
  • Phobophobia – fear of fear (whoa)

No phobias for the fear of being underdressed. But after reading about these other conditions, I’ll gladly swap my half empty glass for a glass half full and say a cheers while thanking my lucky stars. I can’t imagine how difficult these must be.

The Clash released Should I Stay or Should I Go back in 1982. This is the first song I heard from them, so I was surprised to learn this would be one of their last. I also never really realized how much Spanish was mixed in.

“Should I Stay or Should I Go?” was one of the last songs the band recorded before Jones was fired from the band in 1983, effectively ending The Clash as we knew it.

– OldTimeMusic

“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.”

– FarOutMagazine

Dressed in jeans among a sea of tuxedos is as out of place as Ecuadorian Spanish mixed into a Clash song. One of the things about getting older, you tend not give a shit as much. I think I’m slowly moving in that direction. After all, if The Clash doesn’t give two shits, why should I?

–

For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

Darlin' 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 is fine and next is 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 buggin' me (esta indecisión me molesta)
If you don't want me, set me free (Si no me quieres, librame)
Exactly whom I'm supposed to be (Dime! ¿Qué tengo ser?)
Don't you know which clothes even fit me? (No sabes que ropas me queda)
Come on and let me know (Pero tienes que decir)
Should I cool it or should I blow? (¿Me debo ir o quedarme?)

Split

(Doble! ¿Me frío o lo soplo?)
(Esperda)
(Rrattarrattarrattaa...)

Should I stay or should I go now? (Yo me enfrio o lo soplo)
Should I stay or should I go now? (Yo me enfrio 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, es doble)
So you gotta let me know (Pero que tienes que decir)
Should I cool it or should I blow? (¿Me frío o lo soplo?)
Should I stay or should I go now? (¿Me frío 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, es doble)
So you gotta let me know (Pero que tienes que decir)
Should I stay or should I go

34 thoughts on “My Gen X Playlist: Should I Stay or Should I Go? – The Clash”

  2. The thing about getting older and not giving too much of a shit – it’s true 😀 I wish had that superpower in my 20s… Give me back my shits…

    P.S. I used to practice remembering this word – Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia …apparently the guy that invented it is very clever and eloquent.

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  4. Wow, I have so many thoughts on your post! First of all, perfect song. I especially liked the Ecuadorian Spanish mixed in. 🙂 Secondly, enjoyed the list of unique phobias. I feel like I acquire more phobias as I age. I looked up this one–“telephonophobia.” It’s the fear of talking on the phone, which I have, among others. Lastly, I can relate to your fear of being underdressed at social gatherings. I always overdress just to be safe. 😉

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    1. Thank you! Interesting you mention this. There are a number of things that no longer bother me, but every once in awhile, a new thing slips in and I wonder, where did you come from? I hope your telephonophobia eases over time.

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  8. The phobia thing didn’t hit me yet! Fingers crossed. I suffer from enough other mental things, so no need for any phobia in my life. 😅

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  10. Behold the field where I grow my f*cks… you will see that it is barren. I love that meme. I tend to not care the older I get too. Or, at the very least *pretend* not to care. ^_^

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  14. My teenage daughter (who I’m not afraid of … yet) says that fear of long words word constantly and thinks herself so smart for knowing it. 🤣 you’d be surprised how many ways she’s worked it into convos

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    1. Wow, really? I’d never heard of it before and thought it was pretty fascinating. I’m trying to think of potential opportunities to weave that into a conversation. That might be a talent unto itself!

      Haha… let’s hope “yet” never comes!

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