Lapti Nek

"Lapti Nek" was a well-known Huttese song. The Max Rebo Band performed this song in Jabba's Palace. "Lapti Nek" was one of Sy Snootles's favorite songs. The phrase "lapti nek" meant "work it out" in Huttese. The song was speedily composed by Max Rebo as a major attempt to impress Jabba the Hutt in order to gain a larger payment.

LyricsEdit

HutteseEdit

"Lapti Nek"
(File info) · (Audio help)
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 quaff

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, 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!

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!

Basic translationEdit

The lyrics translate into Galactic Basic Standard as follows:

Feel my body growing

My bones have started glowing, ooh

Wow!

The time has come for showing

That I'll shape you up and work you out

My body feels excitin'

My soul is synthesizin'

My whole frame is jumpin'

I'm workin' out and havin' fun

Work it out, you've got to move your soul

Work it out, you've got to feel the heat

Work it out, you've got to move your soul

Wow!

Feel my body growing

My body feels excitin'

My soul is synthesizin'

My whole frame is jumpin'

The time has come for showing

I'll shape you up and work you out

Work it out, you've got to move your soul

Work it out, you've got to feel the heat

Work it out, you've got to move your soul

Wow!

Work you out

My body feels excitin'

My soul is synthesizin'

My whole frame is jumpin'

I'll shape you up and work you out

Work it out, you've got to move your soul

Work it out, you've got to feel the heat

Work it out, you've got to move your soul

Work you out

Wow!

Work it out, you've got to move your soul

Work it out, you've got to feel the heat

Work it out, you've got to move your soul

Wow!

Work it out, you've got to move your soul

Work it out, you've got to feel the heat

Work it out, you've got to move your soul

Wow!

Behind the scenesEdit

"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"^[src]

"Lapti Nek" was composed by John Williams's son, Joseph.

Star Wars Insider 89 noted the irony of what is essentially a workout song being "performed with gusto for the morbidly obese Jabba." However, this description mischaracterizes Jabba's physique, which is fairly typical of a Hutt.

"Lapti Nek" was replaced with "Jedi Rocks" in the 1997 Special Edition and subsequent releases of Return of the Jedi.

This 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.

In the original release of Return of the Jedi, Sy Snootles' voice was dubbed by Annie Arbogast, a member of the sound department.^[1]

Commercial ReleasesEdit

While the film version of the song has never been commercially released due the original masters being lost,^[source?] a number of remixes were officially sanctioned by Lucasfilm Ltd. to promote the release of Return of the Jedi.

Lapti Nek (Special Extended Dance Remix) 12" SingleEdit

This special collector's edition single, released in 1983 by Polygram, contains two dance remixes of "Lapti Nek" by Steve Thompson.

Track ListingEdit

A. Lapti Nek (Jabba's Palace Band) Club Mix (5:30)
B. Lapti Nek (Jabba's Palace Band) Dub Mix (7:00)

The Club Mix features lyrics in Huttese performed by Michelle Gruska while the Dub Mix is an instrumental track.

Lapti Nek Overture (From Return of the Jedi) 12" Single by UrthEdit

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 Williams, John Williams's son, performed as part of Urth, on vocals.

Both tracks were produced and arranged by Jay Gruska.

Track ListingEdit

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)

MecoEdit

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)

Fancy ManEdit

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. This version also has never been commercially released.