This well known melody, which had great popularity at the turn of the century, was written in 1896 by Theodore M. Metz and was later given a UW flavor by Philip Allen, who graduated from the University in 1899 with a law degree.
Hot Time (Cheer, Boys, Cheer!) is now traditionally used by the Wisconsin Band as a "fire-up song" which was played immediately before the kick-off at a football game...the tip-off in basketball...and the face-off at each hockey match. In Camp Randall it is still used to signal a Badger touchdown and is followed immediately by
On Wisconsin after the extra point has been attempted.
Lyrics
Late one night
When we were all in bed,
Old mother Leary
Left the lantern in the shed,
And when the cow kicked it over,
She winked her eye and said,
There'll be a hot time
In the old town tonight.
Cheer, boys, cheer!
Wisconsin's got the ball.
U-rah-rah
Oh, won't they take a fall?
For when we hit their line,
They'll have no line at all.
There'll be a hot time
At Wisconsin tonight.
Listen To Hot Time
[mp3 format 493K]