In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
He's a fairy feller
The fairy folk have gathered 'round the new moon shine
To see the feller crack a nut at night's noon time
To swing his axe he swears, as he climbs he dares
To deliver
The master stroke
Ploughman, "waggoner will" and types
Politician with senatorial pipe, he's a dilly-dally-o
Pedagogue squinting, wears a frown
And a satyr peers under lady's gown, dirty fellow
What a dirty laddio
Tatterdemalion and the junketer
There's a thief and a dragonfly trumpeter, he's my hero
Fairy dandy tickling the fancy of his lady friend
The nymph in yellow (can we see the master stroke)
What a quaere fellow
Soldier, sailor, tinker, tailor, ploughboy
Waiting to hear the sound
And the arch-magician presides
He is the leader
Oberon and Titania watched by a harridan
Mab is the queen and there's a good apothecary-man
Come to say hello
Fairy dandy tickling the fancy of his lady friend
The nymph in yellow
What a quaere fellow
The ostler stares with hands on his knees
Come on mister feller, crack it open if you please
The fairy folk have gathered 'round the new moon shine
To see the feller crack a nut at night's noon time
To swing his axe he swears, as he climbs he dares
To deliver
The master stroke
Ploughman, "waggoner will" and types
Politician with senatorial pipe, he's a dilly-dally-o
Pedagogue squinting, wears a frown
And a satyr peers under lady's gown, dirty fellow
What a dirty laddio
Tatterdemalion and the junketer
There's a thief and a dragonfly trumpeter, he's my hero
Fairy dandy tickling the fancy of his lady friend
The nymph in yellow (can we see the master stroke)
What a quaere fellow
Soldier, sailor, tinker, tailor, ploughboy
Waiting to hear the sound
And the arch-magician presides
He is the leader
Oberon and Titania watched by a harridan
Mab is the queen and there's a good apothecary-man
Come to say hello
Fairy dandy tickling the fancy of his lady friend
The nymph in yellow
What a quaere fellow
The ostler stares with hands on his knees
Come on mister feller, crack it open if you please
Lyrics submitted by Noble Surfer
The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke Lyrics as written by Freddie Mercury
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Freddie Mercury was one of the best songwriters in history(along with Brian May) and he always seemed to allow you to form your own meaning to his songs. I think that this song is fascinating and is written and delivered perfectly. Queen 2 is one of the best albums ever made and people should give it a listen.
There is a painting by Richard Dadd called the Fairy Feller's Masterstroke. I suspect there is a link, although I can't think what.
Look at the painting - the song is a straightforward description of what's happening.
The song seems to be about a Faery Ring - mentions of the king and queen of the Faery, etc... probably is a ref to the Early Master.
The picture by Daad (from the late 1850s - early 1860s) can be found at: beautyandruin.com/findesiecle/earlymasters/daad1.jpg
It is all based on the painting
It IS indeed based on the painting, and it's a loada fun (the song, anyways)! =oD
Yeah its based on Dadd's painting. Awesome song :P I dont see why it isn't just as popular as stuff like The Miracle etc its easily as good.
FREDDIE LIVES
It's probably not as popular as other songs because its on the album Queen II. Most of the stuff before 'A NIght At The Opera' is relativly unknown because they came to the mainstream with ANATO. Still this song rocks, only Queen could produce a song which describes a painting!!!
The words in this song are a literal description of a scene on a painting by Richard Dadd. In my view there's something else behind. I think Freedie is in a way depicting, or even mocking, some ritual held by the members of a secret order, only that these fellows are not people but fairies. "The fairy folk have gathered 'round the new moon shine To see the feller crack a nut at night's noon time..." TO CRACK A NUT....What's the fuss about it??? Yeah....he's definitely mocking all these supersecretive societies whose members are said to be the guardians of an ancient secret that if disclosed it may change the fate of humanity, etc. They may be right. Who knows? Anyway...I just happen to like fairies...so...whatever this song is about, I love it! And Freddie writes and sings perfectly.
Persian Eyes - the fairy feller is cracking a nut to make a new carriage for Queen Mab.