Released: 1978 (1978)
Format: 7", 12"
Recorded Sigma… Read Full Bio ↴Facts:
Released: 1978 (1978)
Format: 7", 12"
Recorded Sigma Sound Studios, New York City 1978
Genre: Disco
Length: 4:48
Label: Casablanca Records
Writer(s): Henri Belolo, Jacques Morali, Victor Willis
Producer: Jacques Morali
General Information
"Y.M.C.A." is a 1978 song by the Village People which became a hit in January 1979. The song reached #2 on the U.S. charts in early 1979 and reached No.1 in the UK around the same time, becoming the group's biggest hit ever. Taking the song at face value, its lyrics extol the virtues of the Young Men's Christian Association.
The song has continued to remain popular due to its status as a disco classic and gay anthem, even among listeners who are otherwise uninvolved in disco or gay culture. A popular dance in which the arms are used to spell out the four letters of the song's title may have much to do with this. It is frequently played during breaks in the action at sporting events, with crowds using the dance as an opportunity to stretch, similar to the later Macarena.
"Y.M.C.A." is number 7 on VH1's list of The 100 Greatest Dance Songs of the 20th Century.
History & Song
Producer Henri Belolo recalls that he saw the YMCA sign while walking down the street with composer Jacques Morali, who seemed to know the institution fairly well: "Henri, let me tell you something. This is a place where a lot of people go when they are in town. And they get good friends and they go out." And Henri got the idea: "Why don't we write a song about it?"
The song became a number one hit in many places (notably not in the United States where it lost to Rod Stewart's "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?"). It has remained popular at parties, events, and functions ever since.
The song, played in the key of F-sharp major, begins with a brass riff, backed by the constant pulse that typified disco. This video shows the song plus the lyrics.[1] Many different instruments are used throughout for an overall orchestral feel, another disco convention, but it is brass that stands out.
"Y.M.C.A."'s other distinctive element is its vocal line, with its repeated "Young man!" ecphonesis, sung by all band members, while lead singer Victor Willis handles the rest of the line alone. The last line of every verse, however, is sung by the group, leading into five sudden bursts of sound followed by the "It's fun to stay at the YMCA" chorus.
Besides a basic reference to Young Men's Christian Association, the song, in the key of being a gay cult, is also believed to describe an act of masturbation, especially in the interpenetration of this paragraph:
No, man does it all by himself.
I said, young man, put your pride on the shelf,
And just go there, to the Y.M.C.A.
I'm sure they can help you today.
Y.M.C.A.
Village People Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I said, young man, pick yourself off the ground
I said, young man, 'cause you're in a new town
There's no need to be unhappy
Young man, there's a place you can go
I said, young man, when you're short on your dough
You can stay there, and I'm sure you will find
It's fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A
It's fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A
They have everything for young men to enjoy
You can hang out with all the boys
It's fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A
It's fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A
You can get yourself clean, you can have a good meal
You can do what ever you feel
Young man, are you listening to me?
I said, young man, what do you want to be?
I said, young man, you can make real your dreams
But you got to know this one thing
No man does it all by himself
I said, young man, put your pride on the shelf
And just go there, to the Y.M.C.A
I'm sure they can help you today
It's fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A
It's fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A
They have everything for young men to enjoy
You can hang out with all the boys
It's fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A
It's fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A
You can get yourself clean, you can have a good meal
You can do what ever you feel
Young man, I was once in your shoes
I said, I was down and out with the blues
I felt no man cared if I were alive
I felt the whole world was so tight
That's when someone came up to me
And said, young man, take a walk up the street
It's a place there called the Y.M.C.A
They can start you back on your way
It's fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A
It's fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A
They have everything for young men to enjoy
You can hang out with all the boys
Y.M.C.A, it's fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A
Young man, young man, there's no need to feel down
Young man, young man, pick yourself off the ground
Y.M.C.A, you'll find it at the Y.M.C.A
No man, young man, does it all by himself
Young man, young man, put your pride on the shelf
Y.M.C.A and just go to the
The Village People's song YMCA can be interpreted in different ways depending on one's perspective. On one hand, the song may be seen as an anthem for the Young Men's Christian Association, popularly known as the YMCA. The lyrics encourage young men to seek help from the YMCA when they are in need, whether it's a place to stay when they are short on cash, a way to meet other young men, or guidance to achieve their dreams. The song highlights the camaraderie and support that can be found in the YMCA community.
On the other hand, the song can also be seen as a celebration of gay male culture. The YMCA was a popular gay cruising spot in the 1970s, and the Village People were known to be gay icons. The lyrics can be interpreted as a coded invitation for gay men to seek out the YMCA as a safe haven where they can meet other men and enjoy themselves without fear of judgment or discrimination. The catchy chorus and dance moves associated with the song have made it a staple of party playlists and sporting events, where people of all backgrounds and orientations can come together and celebrate.
Line by Line Meaning
Young man, there's no need to feel down
Don't be sad, young man.
I said, young man, pick yourself off the ground
Get up and be positive, young man.
I said, young man, 'cause you're in a new town
You're in a new place now, young man.
There's no need to be unhappy
You don't have to be unhappy.
Young man, there's a place you can go
There's a place you can visit, young man.
I said, young man, when you're short on your dough
When you don't have much money, young man.
You can stay there, and I'm sure you will find
You can stay there and I'm confident you'll discover.
Many ways to have a good time
Plenty of ways to enjoy yourself.
It's fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A
It's enjoyable to reside at YMCA.
They have everything for young men to enjoy
YMCA provides everything young men need to have fun.
You can hang out with all the boys
You can spend time with all your male friends.
You can get yourself clean, you can have a good meal
You can shower and have a good meal.
You can do what ever you feel
You can do whatever you want.
Young man, are you listening to me?
Young man, are you paying attention to what I'm saying?
I said, young man, what do you want to be?
Young man, what do you want to become?
I said, young man, you can make real your dreams
Young man, you can make your dreams come true.
But you got to know this one thing
But you have to understand this one thing.
No man does it all by himself
No one can achieve everything alone.
I said, young man, put your pride on the shelf
Young man, forget your ego for a while.
And just go there, to the Y.M.C.A
Just visit YMCA.
I'm sure they can help you today
I'm confident they can assist you now.
Young man, I was once in your shoes
Young man, I was once in your position.
I said, I was down and out with the blues
I was sad and depressed at that time.
I felt no man cared if I were alive
I thought no one cared if I lived or died.
I felt the whole world was so tight
I perceived the world to be so restrictive.
That's when someone came up to me
Then someone approached me.
And said, young man, take a walk up the street
And said, young man, walk up the street.
It's a place there called the Y.M.C.A
There's a place up there called YMCA.
They can start you back on your way
They can help you get back on track.
Y.M.C.A, you'll find it at the Y.M.C.A
You can find YMCA at YMCA.
No man, young man, does it all by himself
No one can do everything on their own.
Young man, young man, put your pride on the shelf
Young man, forget your pride for a while.
Y.M.C.A and just go to the
Visit YMCA.
Y.M.C.A
YMCA.
It's fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A
It's enjoyable to reside at YMCA.
It's fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A
It's enjoyable to reside at YMCA.
They have everything for young men to enjoy
YMCA provides everything young men need to have fun.
You can hang out with all the boys
You can spend time with all your male friends.
It's fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A
It's enjoyable to reside at YMCA.
It's fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A
It's enjoyable to reside at YMCA.
You can get yourself clean, you can have a good meal
You can shower and have a good meal.
You can do what ever you feel
You can do whatever you want.
Young man, young man, there's no need to feel down
Young man, don't be sad.
Young man, young man, pick yourself off the ground
Young man, be positive and get up.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Henri Belolo, Jacques Morali, Victor Edward Willis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@yanxi8279
Me: trying to study
My mind: Y M C A
@chuakem4591
Joke on you cause i play this song while studying
@mooniesjaja7074
Literally every student XD
@vecchioutente
Hey that's me
@sha9443
Lol my exam's in an hour.. n i haven't yet finished my lesson nd im listening to this cz my lesson had ymca in it😌
@yanxi8279
@@sha9443 lmao
@anobsessedrangersfan_21
1978 - Amazing Song
2023 - Still Amazing!
@ipeter8774
9days after ur post....still amazing
@rengoku_rov9557
1 hours aster posting
@ipeter8774
@@rengoku_rov9557 haha