Scherzo ‑ Jolly Rutterkin

Song Meaning

The arrival of Jolly Rutterkin in town is announced with a boisterous, almost nonsensical "Hoyda!" This figure appears in a peculiar outfit – a cloak, but no coat or gown, just a ragged hood for his crown. He's an outsider, unable to speak English, his tongue seemingly stuck on the idea of "buttered fish," a phrase smeared with grease. The lyrics suggest he's a strange, perhaps even uncouth, visitor. Rutterkin is presented as a bringer of good luck, yet this fortune seems tied to excessive drinking, "a stoup of beer up at a pluck," until his mind is as dull as a duck's. This juxtaposition of luck and intoxication hints at a chaotic, perhaps even foolish, source of fortune. The narrator then shifts to a self-description, detailing a meticulous grooming and dressing routine, from brushing hair to the rustling of his robe. The narrator's focus on his appearance is striking. He describes himself as "Properly dressed," his "person pressed / Beyond all size," adopting the "new guise" with enthusiasm. His attire is extravagant: a wide sleeve, "My hose strait tied," and a "buskin wide," all "Rich to behold / Glittering in gold." This detailed self-presentation contrasts sharply with Rutterkin's initial description, suggesting a desire to emulate or perhaps even outshine the newcomer's peculiar charm. The effectiveness of these lyrics lies in their playful, almost absurd depiction of social interaction and self-perception. The initial introduction of Rutterkin as a grease-smeared, foreign figure is immediately followed by a detailed, almost vain, self-adornment. It creates a sense of a community or individual trying to make sense of an odd arrival, perhaps by projecting their own desires for attention and status onto their appearance, all while maintaining a festive, if slightly unhinged, atmosphere.