The Hokey Pokey is a classic dance. You probably think that you have it all figured out: you put your right foot in, you put your right foot out, etc. This is not so. Underneath the belly of the Hokey Pokey lies a complicated history.

Origins of the song and dance are shaky. The modern version of the Hokey Pokey emerged in the 1940s, but earlier traces have been found in records dating back to 1826.

Three different songwriters — Larry LaPrise, Robert Degen, and Jimmy Kennedy — have all fought for the legacy of writing the Hokey Pokey. Who does it actually belong to? Watch the video above.