The Real Meaning Behind The ‘Macarena’ Song Will Crush Your ’90s Soul!!!

Things are about get real for “Macarena” fans.

Spanish pop duo Los del Río released the hit song in 1994, since then its infectious sound and iconic dance moves have been at the center of thousands of gatherings, parties, family reunions, church events and more. But the folks at Discratify have recently tainted a few ’90s kids’ once pristine and innocent childhood memories of dancing to the song. Or at least that was the case when they sat down a handful of people and explained to them what the hit song was really about.

As the video above explains with the help of the song’s English version, “Macarena” wasn’t exactly a feel-good dance song. We took the liberty to add our own translation of the original Spanish lyrics below:

Give your body joy, Macarena
Because your body is meant to be given joy and good things
Give your body joy, Macarena.
Hey Macarena!
Macarena has a boyfriend who is named
Who is named with the last name Vitorino
And while he was being sworn in as a conscript
She’s giving it to two friends
.…
Macarena dreams of the Corte Inglés*
(*Spain’s biggest department store)
and she buys herself the most modern clothes
She would like to live in New York
And seduce a new boyfriend… aaay!

That’s right, the song is about a girl named Macarena who cheats on her boyfriend with two friends while he’s being drafted into the army. Fun for the whole family? Not quite.

Now watch as these ’90s kids are told the truth about the song on camera. R.I.P childhood memories.