The English Version and the Translation

Macarena Lyrics in English

People who look for the Macarena lyrics in English usually want one of two things: the English verses from the 1995 Bayside Boys remix, which is the version that was number one for 14 weeks in 1996, or an English translation of the Spanish lines. This page has both, in that order.

Macarena Song Lyrics in English (Bayside Boys Remix)

This is the version most people know. In their remix released in August 1995, the Bayside Boys (Mike Triay and Carlos de Yarza) added English verses, originally sung by Patty Alfaro, around the Spanish chorus by Los del Rio. These are the lyrics to the hit that topped the charts in 1996.

Chorus

Dale a tu cuerpo alegria Macarena
Que tu cuerpo es pa' darle alegria y cosa buena
Dale a tu cuerpo alegria, Macarena
Hey Macarena!

Verse 1

When I dance they call me Macarena
And the boys they say que soy buena
They all want me, they can't have me
So they all come and dance beside me
Move with me, chant with me
And if you're good I'll take you home with me

Chorus

Dale a tu cuerpo alegria Macarena
Que tu cuerpo es pa' darle alegria y cosa buena
Dale a tu cuerpo alegria, Macarena
Hey Macarena!

Verse 2

Now don't you worry about my boyfriend
The boy whose name is Vitorino
I don't want him, couldn't stand him
He was no good so I... (ha ha ha)
Now come on, what was I supposed to do?
He was out of town and his two friends were so fine

Chorus

Dale a tu cuerpo alegria Macarena
Que tu cuerpo es pa' darle alegria y cosa buena
Dale a tu cuerpo alegria, Macarena
Hey Macarena!

Verse 3

Come and find me, my name is Macarena
Always at the party, con las chicas que son buenas
Come join me, dance with me
And all you fellows chant along with me

Chorus (repeat to fade)

Dale a tu cuerpo alegria Macarena
Que tu cuerpo es pa' darle alegria y cosa buena
Dale a tu cuerpo alegria, Macarena
Hey Macarena!

The Spanish Chorus and Verses in English

The chorus stays in Spanish in every version of the song. The three Spanish verses below come from the 1993 original by Los del Rio, and they tell a more specific story than the English remix verses do. These are plain English readings of each line. For the Spanish next to the English, with notes on the slang and the references, see the line-by-line Macarena translation.

Chorus

Give your body joy, Macarena
Because your body is meant for giving it joy and good things
Give your body joy, Macarena
Hey Macarena!

Verse 1 (original Spanish version)

Macarena has a boyfriend whose name is
Whose last name is Vitorino
And during the boy's military swearing-in ceremony
She got together with two of his friends

Verse 2 (original Spanish version)

Macarena dreams of El Corte Ingles
Where she buys the most modern styles
She would like to live in New York
And hook up with a new boyfriend

Verse 3 (original Spanish version)

Macarena, Macarena, Macarena
You love the summers of Marbella
Macarena, Macarena, Macarena
You like the guerrilla scene

Which Lines Are English and Which Are Spanish

Part of the songLos del Rio original (1993)Bayside Boys remix (1995)
ChorusSpanishSpanish, same words
VersesSpanish, three verses about MacarenaEnglish, three new verses sung by Macarena herself
Shout"Hey Macarena!""Hey Macarena!"

The remix verses are not a translation of the Spanish ones. The Bayside Boys wrote new lines in which Macarena speaks for herself, and they kept a few Spanish phrases inside the English, such as "que soy buena" and "con las chicas que son buenas." The two versions are compared on the Bayside Boys remix page.

Questions About the English Lyrics

Is the Macarena in English or Spanish?+
Both, depending on the version. The 1993 original by Los del Rio is entirely in Spanish. The 1995 Bayside Boys remix, the version that reached number one in 1996, keeps the Spanish chorus and adds verses in English.
Who sings the English verses of the Macarena?+
The English verses were written for the Bayside Boys remix by Mike Triay and Carlos de Yarza and were originally sung by Patty Alfaro. Carla Vanessa later performed them live.
What does the Macarena chorus mean in English?+
"Dale a tu cuerpo alegria, Macarena" means "Give your body joy, Macarena." The second line, "que tu cuerpo es pa' darle alegria y cosa buena," means "because your body is meant for giving it joy and good things."

More Macarena Lyrics Pages