Lapti Nek

Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You're my only hope.

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"Lapti Nek" ("Shapin' Up And Workin' Out") — was a well-known Huttese song. The song was released by Evar Orbus and His Galactic Jizz-Wailers and became a popular hit. Following the death of bandleader Evar Orbus, many of the surviving band members formed the Max Rebo Band and continued to perform it.^[1]

The Max Rebo Band performed this song in Jabba's Palace, once on the day C-3PO and R2-D2 arrived at the palace with a message from Luke Skywalker, setting off the events leading to the rescue of Han Solo.^[2]

Lapti Nek was playing in The Tipsy Mynock cantina^[3] in 32 BBY,^[4] when the pirates Arwen Cohl and Boiny met with the Mercenary Lope.^[3]

Lyrics[]

Huttese[]

▶️ to a preview of "Lapti Nek"
(info)
A short sample clip

Ab queck zenick fesi
Zong jup col im in na hiz jal, ooh
Wow!
Wa toc peg qui dos gee pif, aah
Joc jarraz bas deg zorze zot
Jer wih tuster mo vey
Qui neb be og ezen on
Wok lapti nek seb not van
Goc jarraz bas deg zorze zot

Lapti nek, rat a ran wim joct co jappi qaff
Lapti nek, kiv ba ha top wep jex pi va bep
Lapti nek, rat a ran wim joct co jeppi qaff
Wow!

Ab queck zenick fesi
Jem wih tuster mo vey
Qui neb be og ezen on
Wok lapti nek seb not van
Wah toc peg qui doz gee pif ezact
Goc jarraz bas deg zorze zot

Lapti nek, rat a ran wim joct co jappi qoff
Lapti nek, kiv ba ha top wep jex pi va bep
Lapti nek, rat a ran wim joct co jappi qaff
Wow!

Deg zorze zot

Jem with tuster mo vey
Qui neb be og ezen on
Wok lapti nek seb not van
Goc jarraz bas deg zorze zot

Lapti nek, rat a ran wim joct co jappi qoff
Lapti nek, kiv ba ha top wep jex pi va bep
Lapti nek, rat a ran wim joct co jappi qaff
Deg zorze zot
Wow!

Lapti nek lapti nek
Lapti nek lapti nek
Lapti nek lapti nek
Wow!

Lapti nek lapti nek
Lapti nek lapti nek
Lapti nek lapti nek
Wow!

Behind the scenes[]

"We had a song, which will probably be changed because it was a little bit disco and I can't stand disco. I think it's awful and George isn't wild about it either."

―Richard Marquand on "Lapti Nek"^[5]

"Lapti Nek" was composed by John Williams's son, Joseph, for the 1983 film Return of the Jedi. In the original release of the film, Sy Snootles' voice was provided by Annie Arbogast, a member of the sound department.^[6] "Lapti Nek" was replaced with "Jedi Rocks" in the 1997 Special Edition and subsequent releases of Return of the Jedi.

Star Wars Insider 89 noted the irony of what is essentially a workout song being "performed with gusto for the morbidly obese Jabba." The song can be heard on the "jukebox" in the Star Wars Galaxies game, under the name "Max Rebo 1." It is also heard in Jabba's throne room.

In Russian, "lapti" means "bast shoes," usually made from bast of the birch tree and worn by peasants.

Commercial releases[]

The film version of the song has never been commercially released due to the original masters being lost.^[7] An alternate version appears on the Return of the Jedi soundtrack, with Michele Gruska vocals.^[5] The Huttese lyrics in this article are from this soundtrack version; the words lapti nek do not appear in the film version. An English version of the song entitled "Fancy Man" can be heard on the From Star Wars to Jedi: The Making of a Saga documentary, as well as the Return of the Ewok mockumentary. An instrumental version of the song can be heard in the Return of the Jedi radio dramatization. This version also has never been commercially released.

Remixes[]

Lucasfilm officially sanctioned a number of remixes to promote the release of Return of the Jedi:

Lapti Nek (Special Extended Dance Remix) 12" Single:
This collector's edition single, released in 1983 by Polygram, contains two dance remixes of "Lapti Nek" by Steve Thompson. The Club Mix features lyrics in Huttese performed by Michele Gruska while the Dub Mix is an instrumental track.

Lapti Nek Overture (From Return of the Jedi) 12" Single by Urth:
This single was released by Warner Bros. Records, Inc. in 1983 under the Bantha Music label. The band Urth was formed specifically for this recording. The "Lapti Nek Overture" combined Huttese lyrics, by Annie M. Arbogast, Ewokese lyrics, by Ben Burtt, and English lyrics by Joseph Williams. Joseph performed as part of Urth, on vocals. Both tracks were produced and arranged by Jay Gruska.
- Track Listing
  - A. Urth - Lapti Nek Overture (From Return of the Jedi) (Vocal) (3:51)
  - B. Urth - Lapti Nek Overture (From Return of the Jedi) (Instrumental) (5:24)

Meco releases[]

Meco has released a few versions of "Lapti Nek" on various records:

Ewok Celebration (1983 12" LP Complete Album), released by Arista (catalog number AL 8-8098) and produced by Harold Wheeler, Lance Quinn, Meco Monardo and Tony Bongiovi, included: "Track 2. Lapti Nek (5:10)"
Ewok Celebration/Lapti Nek (1983 7" Single), released by Arista (catalog number AS 1-9045) and produced by Lance Quinn, Meco Monardo and Tony Bongiovi, included: "Track 2. Lapti Nek (7" Edit) feat. Huttese lyrics by Annie M. Arbogast (3:00)"