Complete Lyrics, Translation & Meaning
Macarena Lyrics in English and Spanish
The complete lyrics to the 1996 global hit that spent 14 weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Below you will find both the Bayside Boys English remix and the original Spanish version by Los del Rio, with a line-by-line translation and the surprising true meaning of the song.
Quick Facts About the Macarena
- Original Artists
- Los del Rio
- Remix By
- Bayside Boys (1995)
- Original Release
- 1993 (Spanish version)
- Weeks at #1
- 14 (Billboard Hot 100, 1996)
- Original Language
- Spanish
- Copies Sold
- Over 11 million
Macarena Lyrics in English (Bayside Boys Remix)
This is the version most people know. The Bayside Boys remix added English verses written by Carlos de Yarza and originally sung by Patty Alfaro. These are the lyrics to the worldwide hit that topped 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!
Macarena Lyrics in Spanish (Original Los del Rio Version)
The original 1993 recording by Los del Rio was performed entirely in Spanish with a flamenco-influenced rhythm. This is the version that first became a hit across Spain and Latin America before the Bayside Boys remix made it a global phenomenon.
Estribillo (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!
Verso 1 (Verse 1)
Macarena tiene un novio que se llama
Que se llama de apellido Vitorino
Que en la jura de bandera del muchacho
Se la dio con dos amigos
Estribillo (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!
Verso 2 (Verse 2)
Macarena suena con El Corte Ingles
Que se compra los modelos mas modernos
Le gustaria vivir en Nueva York
Y ligar un novio nuevo
Estribillo (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!
Verso 3 (Verse 3)
Macarena, Macarena, Macarena
Que te gustan los veranos de Marbella
Macarena, Macarena, Macarena
Que te gusta la movida guerrillera
Macarena Lyrics: Side-by-Side Spanish to English Translation
The original Spanish lyrics tell a much more specific story than the English remix lets on. Here is a line-by-line translation of the key verses, with cultural context that helps explain references that non-Spanish speakers would miss.
Spanish Original
English Translation
Chorus
Dale a tu cuerpo alegria Macarena
Give your body joy, Macarena
Context: An invitation to dance and celebrate life.
Que tu cuerpo es pa' darle alegria y cosa buena
Because your body is meant for giving it joy and good things
Dale a tu cuerpo alegria, Macarena
Give your body joy, Macarena
Hey Macarena!
Hey Macarena!
Verse 1 (The Infidelity)
Macarena tiene un novio que se llama, que se llama de apellido Vitorino
Macarena has a boyfriend whose last name is Vitorino
Que en la jura de bandera del muchacho
And during the boy's military swearing-in ceremony
Context: 'Jura de bandera' is a military oath ceremony in Spain where soldiers swear loyalty to the flag.
Se la dio con dos amigos
She got together with two of his friends
Context: This is the line that reveals the song's scandalous plot: Macarena cheated on Vitorino with two of his friends while he was at his military ceremony.
Verse 2 (Her Ambitions)
Macarena suena con El Corte Ingles
Macarena dreams of El Corte Ingles
Context: El Corte Ingles is Spain's largest department store chain, comparable to Harrods or Macy's. This signals Macarena's love of high fashion and materialism.
Que se compra los modelos mas modernos
Where she buys the most modern styles
Le gustaria vivir en Nueva York
She would like to live in New York
Y ligar un novio nuevo
And hook up with a new boyfriend
Context: 'Ligar' is Spanish slang for flirting or picking someone up.
Verse 3 (Marbella and the Movida)
Macarena, Macarena, Macarena, que te gustan los veranos de Marbella
Macarena, Macarena, Macarena, you love the summers of Marbella
Context: Marbella is a glamorous resort town on Spain's Costa del Sol, known for its beaches and nightlife.
Macarena, Macarena, Macarena, que te gusta la movida guerrillera
Macarena, Macarena, Macarena, you like the guerrilla scene
Context: 'La movida' likely references Spain's countercultural movement after the Franco era, a period of artistic and social liberation in the 1980s and early 1990s.
What the Macarena Lyrics Really Mean
Despite being a staple at children's parties, school dances, and wedding receptions for decades, the Macarena lyrics tell a story that is surprisingly adult. The song is, at its core, about a woman named Macarena who is unfaithful to her boyfriend.
The Story in the Spanish Verses
The original Spanish lyrics paint a clear picture. Macarena has a boyfriend named Vitorino. While Vitorino is away at his military swearing-in ceremony (the "jura de bandera"), Macarena gets involved with two of his friends. That is the central plot of Verse 1, and it is told plainly in the Spanish text, though most English-speaking fans never realized it because they were focused on the catchy chorus and the dance.
Why Nobody Noticed
Several factors contributed to the song becoming a family-friendly party anthem despite its risque storyline. Most importantly, the majority of the song's global audience did not speak Spanish. They focused on the infectious beat and the iconic dance routine rather than trying to understand the words. The Bayside Boys English remix also toned down the story significantly, with lyrics like "They all want me, they can't have me" replacing the specific narrative about infidelity with two of Vitorino's friends.
The Deeper Cultural Layers
Beyond the surface-level story of infidelity, the lyrics contain multiple layers of cultural commentary. Macarena's desire to shop at El Corte Ingles and live in New York reflects the aspirational materialism of 1990s Spain. Her love of Marbella's summers places her in the glamorous, party-driven coastal culture of southern Spain. And the reference to "la movida guerrillera" connects her to the post-Franco cultural movement that celebrated freedom, self-expression, and rebellion against traditional Spanish conservatism.
Some cultural scholars interpret the song as a commentary on changing social values in Spain during the 1990s, with Macarena representing a new generation of Spanish women who were breaking from tradition. Others see it as comedic exaggeration, a common device in Spanish popular music where upbeat melodies carry stories with adult or ironic themes.
The Name Macarena
The name itself has deep roots in Seville, the hometown of Los del Rio. La Macarena is a historic neighborhood in Seville and is also the name of the Basilica de la Macarena, home to the revered Virgin of Hope of Macarena. It is a traditional Andalusian name that immediately evokes Seville's rich cultural identity. According to the artists, the song was originally improvised at a party in Venezuela in honor of a flamenco dancer named Diana Patricia. They later changed the name to Macarena to tie the song more closely to their Sevillian roots.
Key Macarena Phrases Explained
The Macarena chorus and verses contain Spanish expressions that carry more nuance than a simple word-for-word translation can convey. Here are the most important phrases and what they mean in context.
"Dale a tu cuerpo alegria"
Literal: "Give your body joy"
This is the most famous line in the song. "Dale" is the informal imperative of "dar" (to give), making it a direct command: "Give it!" The phrase is an invitation to let go, dance, and enjoy physical movement. In Latin music, "alegria" (joy, happiness) often carries connotations of both celebration and sensuality.
"Que tu cuerpo es pa' darle alegria y cosa buena"
Literal: "Because your body is for giving it joy and good things"
"Pa'" is an informal contraction of "para" (for), common in spoken Andalusian Spanish. The line reinforces that our bodies are meant for happiness and celebration. "Cosa buena" (good things) is intentionally open-ended, carrying a double meaning that works on both an innocent, dance-focused level and a more suggestive one.
"Se la dio con dos amigos"
Literal: "She gave it to him with two friends"
This is the pivotal line that reveals the plot. In colloquial Spanish, "darsela a alguien" means to cheat on or deceive someone. Macarena was unfaithful with two of Vitorino's friends. The playful phrasing is typical of how Spanish popular music handles adult themes, burying scandalous content inside catchy, upbeat melodies.
"La jura de bandera"
Literal: "The swearing of the flag"
This refers to the Spanish military oath ceremony, a formal event where soldiers swear loyalty to the Spanish flag. Military service was mandatory in Spain until 2001. Vitorino was away at this important ceremony while Macarena was with his friends, which makes her betrayal all the more pointed in cultural context.
"Ligar un novio nuevo"
Literal: "To hook a new boyfriend"
"Ligar" is widely used Spanish slang meaning to flirt with, pick up, or hook up with someone. In the context of the song, Macarena is not just dreaming of New York and fashion but also of finding a new romantic partner entirely, leaving Vitorino behind.
Original vs. Bayside Boys Remix: How the Lyrics Changed
The two versions of the Macarena tell the same basic story but in very different ways. Understanding the differences helps explain why millions of people danced to a song about infidelity without ever realizing it.
| Aspect | Original (1993) | Remix (1995) |
|---|---|---|
| Language | Entirely Spanish | English verses, Spanish chorus |
| Musical style | Flamenco/rumba rhythm | Electronic dance beat |
| Story detail | Explicitly names Vitorino and two friends | Vaguely mentions boyfriend and friends |
| Tone | Narrative, telling a story | First-person, Macarena speaking to the listener |
| Cultural references | El Corte Ingles, Marbella, la movida | Removed; replaced with generic party language |
| Peak chart position | Hit in Spain and Latin America | #1 Billboard Hot 100 for 14 weeks |
The shift from Spanish to English, and from specific narrative to generic party anthem, was key to the song's global success. By stripping away the cultural specifics and the explicit infidelity storyline, the Bayside Boys created a version that felt universally fun. The Spanish chorus remained, giving the song its exotic appeal, while the English verses made it singable for a worldwide audience.