Buy'ce gal, buy'ce tal was a Mandalorian drinking song. By the years 21 BBY, Buy'ce gal, buy'ce tal had gained significant popularity among numerous Mandalorian soldiers.[2] The song was cynical in nature, and was an expression of the common Mandalorian mercenary's wry pragmatism as they accepted that life could be fleeting and victories irrelevant.[1]
Traditionally sung in the Mandalorian dialect of Mando'a, Buy'ce gal, buy'ce tal was a song that contained strong language. When it was performed in the more widely spoken language of Galactic Basic Standard, Buy'ce gal, buy'ce tal was often given an approximate translation rather than a direct one, with the lyrics edited to be less explicit.[2]
| Mando'a[2] | Phonetic pronunciation[1] | Approximate Basic[2] | Direct Basic[3] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buy'ce gal, buy'ce tal Verbor'ad ures aliit Mhi draar baat'i meg'parjii'se Kote lo'shebs'ul narit. |
BOO-shay GAHL, BOO-shay TAHL vair-BOR-ahd OO-rehs AH-leet Mee DRAHR bah-TEE mayg-PAR-jee-SAY koh-TAY loh SHEBS-ool-NAH-reet |
A pint of ale, a pint of blood Buys men without a name. We never care who wins the war So you can keep your fame. |
A pint of ale, a pint of blood Hires a man without identity. We never care who the winners are So shove your glory up your ass. |
Behind the scenes
First appearing in the Star Wars Legends canon in the opening of the twenty-first chapter of Republic Commando: Triple Zero by Karen Traviss, the song was identified only as a nameless popular Mandalorian drinking chant.[2] With the release of the Star Wars Insider article, The Mandalorians: People and Culture, in the magazine's eighty-sixth issue, the song was officially deemed "Buy'ce gal, buy'ce tal" and a brief interpretation of its lyrical meaning was provided.[1] In the novel Triple Zero, the translation that is given in Basic is labeled as an "approximate" one, edited for strong language.[2]
Appearances
- Republic Commando: Triple Zero (First appearance)
Sources
"The Mandalorians: People and Culture" — Star Wars Insider 86 (First identified as Buy'ce gal, buy'ce tal)
Notes and references
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4
"The Mandalorians: People and Culture" — Star Wars Insider 86
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Republic Commando: Triple Zero
- ↑ As can be concluded by reading Karen Traviss's notes and vocabulary list.