Scarecrow's Song

The "Scarecrow's Song" is a recurring Song in The Legend of Zelda series.^[1]

Learning Location and Uses[]

In the two games in which it has appeared thus far, the "Scarecrow's Song" can only be up to eight notes long, allowing any combination of the C and A buttons as long as they aren't a duplicate of one of the game's other tunes or the same eight notes in a row. This melody only has an effect when either Navi in Ocarina of Time or Tatl in Majora's Mask fly over to a spot and change their color to green or blue, respectively. Upon playing the Scarecrow's Song, a Scarecrow appears in the place indicated by Navi or Tatl, allowing Link to use the Hookshot to bring himself to it.

The Scarecrow's Song is not a requirement in order to beat the game. However, it still serves to:

Retrieve Otherwise Out-Of-Reach Items
Provide Shortcuts such as being able to provide Link access to the top of the maze in front of the Forest Temple entrance, thus avoiding battle with the Moblins inside.
Avoid Otherwise Unavoidable Traps such as many places inside the Gerudo Training Grounds.

Ocarina of Time[]

In Ocarina of Time, young Link must travel to Lake Hylia and show Bonooru, the scarecrow in the soil by a fence, his Ocarina. He will ask the young hero to play him any melody that is eight notes long and see if he can memorize it.^[2]

However, in order for the "Scarecrow's Song" to function properly, Link must return as an adult and play the same tune to Bonooru. The Scarecrow will be so happy to hear it again that he will offer Link the services of Pierre, the other Scarecrow, who is wandering the lands of Hyrule by this time.^[3]

Having learned the "Scarecrow's Song," Link can now use it to summon Pierre whenever he is nearby. He can call upon the Scarecrow when Navi flies to a far off area and turns green, even though there appears to be nothing there. If the young hero plays the song, Pierre will spring out of the ground. Once summoned, Link can grapple onto Pierre with his Hookshot or Longshot and pull himself to otherwise impossible-to-reach locations.

Majora's Mask[]

In Majora's Mask, Link can compose a "Scarecrow's Song" for Pierre, who is initially found in either the Trading Post or the Astral Observatory. Just like in Ocarina of Time, the song can only be eight notes long and cannot be the same arrangement of notes as one of the game's melodies. Tatl will fly off and turn blue whenever there is a hidden Scarecrow nearby, and playing this melody with the Ocarina of Time will summon it. However, Link will have to compose the Scarecrow's Song each time he plays the Song of Time and returns to the Dawn of the First Day.

Nomenclature[]

Names in Other Regions
Language		Name	Meaning
	Japanese	案山子の歌 (Kakashi no Uta)
	French^CA	Chanson de l'epouvantail ^(MM3D)
	French^EU	Chant de l'Epouvantail
	German	Vogelscheuchen-Polka	Scarecrow Polka
	Italian	Ode a un uomo di paglia	Ode to a Strawman
	Spanish^EU	Son del Espantapájaros ^(OoT3D)
	Spanish^LA	Son del espantapájaros ^(OoT3D) Canción del espantapájaros ^(MM3D)

References

↑ Encyclopedia, Dark Horse Books, pg. 96 ^{(OoT | MM)}
↑ "Whoa! You have an ocarina! Hey, why don't you lay a tune on me with it, baby?! Well...not bad! I will remember it for you anyway! I don't mean I can remember only eight notes, but let's just cut it right there for now, baby!" — Bonooru (Ocarina of Time)
↑ "OH YEAHHH!! That's it, that's the tune!! You rock!! I'm blown away! Oh, no, no! I didn't forget the song...I never forget anything! But I just feel like rewarding you, baby! ........ I have a good idea! My buddy Pierre is wandering around, so play that tune when you want to call him! I'll tell him to help you if he's nearby and hears that song, baby!" — Bonooru (Ocarina of Time)