39 Songs About Drinking, from Piano Man to Red Solo Cup

What is the most famous song about drinking?

"Friends in Low Places" by Garth Brooks and "Piano Man" by Billy Joel are the most famous bar sing-alongs, and "Margaritaville" by Jimmy Buffett is the best-known song about a drink. For a party, "Red Solo Cup" by Toby Keith and "Tubthumping" by Chumbawamba get everyone singing.

Classic drinking songs and bar sing-alongs

1. "Piano Man", Billy Joel: portraits of the regulars at a piano bar.
2. "Tubthumping", Chumbawamba: the 90s anthem about getting back up.
3. "One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer", George Thorogood and the Destroyers: a blues bar story.
4. "Escape (The Piña Colada Song)", Rupert Holmes: a personal ad with a twist.
5. "Whiskey in the Jar", Thin Lizzy: a rocking version of an Irish folk song.
6. "Where Everybody Knows Your Name", Gary Portnoy: the theme from Cheers.
7. "Beer Barrel Polka", The Andrews Sisters: the polka every wedding band knows.
8. "Have a Drink on Me", AC/DC: a hard rock toast.

Country drinking songs

9. "Friends in Low Places", Garth Brooks: the ultimate country sing-along.
10. "Red Solo Cup", Toby Keith: a tribute to the party cup.
11. "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere", Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett: permission to start the weekend early.
12. "Margaritaville", Jimmy Buffett: the island classic.
13. "Two Piña Coladas", Garth Brooks: a breakup cured on a beach.
14. "Here for the Party", Gretchen Wilson: a rowdy anthem.
15. "All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight", Hank Williams Jr.: later the Monday Night Football theme.
16. "Drinkin' Problem", Midland: a smooth 70s-style country hit.
17. "Day Drinking", Little Big Town: a summer afternoon song.
18. "Alcohol", Brad Paisley: sung from the point of view of alcohol itself.

Songs about beer

19. "Beer Never Broke My Heart", Luke Combs: beer as the one thing that never let him down.
20. "I Like Beer", Tom T. Hall: a simple, cheerful classic.
21. "Beer Run", Garth Brooks and George Jones: two legends on a store run.
22. "Beer in Mexico", Kenny Chesney: a laid-back beach song.
23. "In Heaven There Is No Beer", Frankie Yankovic: the polka party favorite.
24. "There's a Tear in My Beer", Hank Williams Jr. and Hank Williams: a duet built from his father's old recording.

Songs about whiskey

25. "Tennessee Whiskey", Chris Stapleton: a love as smooth as whiskey.
26. "Whiskey River", Willie Nelson: the song he opens his shows with.
27. "Whiskey Lullaby", Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss: a heartbreaking story about where drinking can lead.
28. "Wine After Whiskey", Carly Pearce: comparing an old love to a new one.
29. "Scotch and Soda", The Kingston Trio: a mellow 1958 song.

Songs about wine and cocktails

30. "Red Red Wine", UB40: a reggae version of a Neil Diamond song.
31. "Strawberry Wine", Deana Carter: a song about first love on a summer farm.
32. "Sangria", Blake Shelton: a slow, romantic country hit.
33. "Rum and Coca-Cola", The Andrews Sisters: a 1945 hit about Trinidad.
34. "Tequila", The Champs: the instrumental with one shouted word.

Party songs about drinking

35. "Cheers (Drink to That)", Rihanna: an upbeat toast to the weekend.
36. "Shots", LMFAO: a loud party anthem.
37. "Tipsy", J-Kwon: a 2004 hip hop hit.
38. "Drinking in L.A.", Bran Van 3000: a laid-back 90s favorite.
39. "Bottoms Up", Brantley Gilbert: a country rock party song.

Why are there so many songs about drinking?

For centuries, people sang in taverns and pubs, so drinking songs were written to be easy to sing in a group: short verses, big choruses and a reason to raise a glass. Country music added its own tradition of songs about drinking to forget a heartbreak, while pop and hip hop turned drinking into a party theme.

Drinking songs from around the world

Every culture has its own drinking songs. In Irish pubs, "The Wild Rover" and "Whiskey in the Jar" are sung by the whole room. In Munich beer halls during Oktoberfest, the band plays the short toast "Ein Prosit" again and again, and sea shanties like "Drunken Sailor" have become sing-alongs far from the ocean. For Irish music beyond the pub, see our Irish wedding songs, and for something to eat with your drink, our songs about food.

Drinking songs for a birthday or night out

For a 21st birthday, a bachelor or bachelorette party or a big night out, start with the sing-alongs and save the party songs for later. For more party ideas, see our bachelorette party songs and birthday songs. And always plan a safe way home.

Sad drinking songs

Not every drinking song is a party. "Whiskey Lullaby", "There's a Tear in My Beer" and "Alcohol" are honest about the darker side of drinking. If drinking is causing problems for you or someone you love, the SAMHSA National Helpline (1-800-662-4357) is free, confidential and open 24 hours a day. See also our songs about addiction and recovery.

A toast set to music

For the friend who is always first to raise a glass, a personalized song makes a fun birthday, retirement or wedding toast: their name, their favorite bar stories and the inside jokes from your nights out, in a country sing-along or a rock anthem style.

How to create a personalized song

1. Choose a style from 14 genres: country, rock, pop and more.
2. Add their name.
3. Share three funny stories or memories from your nights out.
4. Review the lyrics and edit or regenerate them for free before any music is made.
5. Listen to 4 free 45-second previews and choose your favorite.

The full 3 to 4 minute song costs $24.99, or $29.99 for Premium with four full versions and editable lyrics. You get the MP3, a gift page and the lyrics as a PDF.

Raise a glass with a song of their own: create a song and hear four previews for free.