The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke

The lyrics create a crowded, strange scene in which fairy folk and a collection of curious characters gather to watch a “feller” attempt a difficult, important nut-cracking. The repeated anticipation of the “master stroke” builds playful suspense: everyone is watching, but the action itself remains just out of reach. The mood is lively and theatrical, with a hint of absurdity.

The “new moon shine” and “night’s noontime” mix images of darkness and daylight, making the setting feel dreamlike rather than realistic. “Master stroke” suggests a decisive, impressive action, while also describing the feller’s literal swing of his axe. The long list of people—from a ploughman to a politician, thief, and dragonfly trumpeter—makes the gathering seem like a jumble of social types and fantasy beings. “Crack it open” repeats the simple practical task and keeps the crowd’s expectation in focus.

The lyrics do not explain why the nut matters, or whether the feller will succeed. That lack of explanation may be part of the humor: the characters treat an ordinary action as a grand event. Some words, such as “quaere,” are unusual or unclear in context, so it is safer not to assign them a firm meaning. Overall, the song can be read as a whimsical portrait of a spectacle whose importance comes less from the task itself than from the strange audience waiting to see it.