Level: 2/3
Tuning: Standard

"Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight" is an American popular song composed in 1896 by Theodore August Metz with lyrics by Joe Hayden. Metz was the bandleader of the McIntyre and Heath Minstrels. One history of the song reports: "While on tour with the McIntyre and Heath Minstrels, their train arrived at a place called 'Old Town'. From their train window, [Metz] could see a group of children starting a fire, near the tracks. One of the other minstrels remarked that 'there'll be a hot time in the old town tonight'. Metz noted the remark on a scrap of paper, intending to write a march with that motif. He did indeed write the march the very next day. It was then used by the McIntyre and Heath Minstrels in their Street parades."

The version taught in this lesson is from the playing of Mississippi John Hurt. Played in the key of C using an alternating bass technique.