The "Ewok Celebration," commonly known as "Yub Nub," is a 1983 song featured in Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi. It was published by Bantha Music and is administered by Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corporation.
The song appears in the final scene of the film during the celebration in the Ewok village. It was removed from the film in the Special Edition and replaced with a new piece by John Williams entitled "Victory Celebration."
The music was written by John Williams, the Ewokese lyrics were written by ILM sound designer Ben Burtt, and the English (Basic) lyrics were written by John Williams's son, Joseph Williams.
Also called the Ewok Freedom Song, it was performed by the London Symphony Orchestra. The Ewokese lyrics were sung by the Oakland Inspirational Choir, who performed other Ewokese sounds for the film.[1]
Ewokese lyrics[]
Yub nub, eee chop yub nub;
Ah toe mee toe pee chee keene;
G'noop dock fling oh ah.
Yah wah, eee chop yah wah;
Ah toe mee toe peechee keene;
G'noop dock fling oh ah.
Coatee cha tu yub nub;
Coatee cha tu yah wah;
Coatee cha tu glowah;
Allay loo ta nuv.
Glowah, eee chop glowah;
Ya glowah pee chu nee foom,
Ah toot dee awe goon daa.
*Coatee cha tu goo; (Yub nub!)
Coatee cha tu doo; (Yah wah!)
Coatee cha tu too; (Ya chaa!)
Allay loo ta nuv,
Allay loo ta nuv,
Allay loo ta nuv.
Glowah, eee chop glowah.
Ya glowah pee chu nee foom;
Ah toot dee awe goon daa.
* Coatee cha tu goo; (Yub nub!)
Coatee cha tu doo; (Yah wah!)
Coatee cha tu too; (Ya chaa!)
Allay loo ta nuv.
Allay loo ta nuv.
Allay loo ta nuv.
Allay loo ta nuv.[source?]
English (Basic) lyrics[]
Freedom, we got freedom;
And now that we can be free,
Come on and celebrate.
Power, we got power;
And now that we can be free,
It's time to celebrate.
Celebrate the freedom;
Celebrate the power;
Celebrate the glory;
Celebrate the love.
Glory, we found glory.
The power showed us the light,
And now we all live free.
*Celebrate the light; (Freedom!)
Celebrate the might; (Power!)
Celebrate the fight; (Glory!)
Celebrate the love.
Celebrate the love.
Celebrate the love.
Glory, we found glory.
The power showed us the light,
And now we all live free.
*Celebrate the light; (Freedom!)
Celebrate the might; (Power!)
Celebrate the fight; (Glory!)
Celebrate the love.
Celebrate the love.
Celebrate the love.
Celebrate the love.[2]
Continuity[]
The original 1983 CD/LP version of the Return of the Jedi soundtrack (as well as the 1993 Anthology) utilizes a more subdued and alternate take of the theme which was different from the film version.
Appearances[]
- Star Wars: Battlefront II (Only in Hero Assault mode)
- Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi (Pre-1997 releases, and Limited Edition release only)
- Return of the Jedi radio drama
- Star Wars Trilogy: The Original Soundtrack Anthology
- Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi soundtrack (1983 CD/LP soundtrack album)
Non-canon appearances[]
- LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy (in a cutscene after the Battle of Endor)
LEGO Star Wars: The Yoda Chronicles — "Attack of the Jedi"- Disney Infinity 3.0
Sources[]
- Jedi at 40 | Ben Burtt and Randy Thom on Crafting Ewokese, Jabba's Voice, and the Rancor's Roar on StarWars.com (backup link)
- This Week! in Star Wars Celebrating 40 Years of Return of the Jedi on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link)
