Nothing accentuates the camaraderie of hanging out with friends and throwing back a few pints like a drinking song playing in the background.
Whether your poison is whiskey or wine, there's a song for every toast. We've compiled a list of the best drinking songs for raising your glass.
Contents
1. “Friends in Low Places” by Garth Brooks
Song year: 1990
Garth Brooks' country hit “Friends in Low Places” is a tale of showing up to the party and realizing they might not be your crowd. Instead of lamenting being the odd man out, Brooks proudly toasts his friends from the other side of the tracks.
2. “Cheap Beer” by FIDLAR
Song year: 2013
Punk rockers FIDLAR shred their guitars and throats on their ode to tallboys, “Cheap Beer.” With all the wild styles of IPAs and hard seltzers saturating the market, the rock and roll cred of a cheap beer has become a badge of honor, and FIDLAR wears it proudly.
3. “Beer Neer Broke My Heart” by Luke Combs
Song year: 2019
Luke Combs goes through a laundry list of life's woes on the country rocker “Beer Never Broke My Heart.” Unsurprisingly, Combs realizes that the one constant of comfort through all his trials has been beer. We can all drink to that.
4. “Moonshiner” by Bob Dylan
Song year: 1963
Bob Dylan's “Moonshiner” is a traditional folk song about the joys of drinking in a sorrowful world. Dozens of artists have performed the song, though Dylan's version stands out as world-weary and far beyond the years of the young singer-songwriter.
5. “Beer for Breakfast” by Replacements
Song year: 1997
The Replacements were notoriously heavy drinkers, and their song “Beer For Breakfast” lays out exactly what they require for the most important meal of the day. Even though you're not living as fast as these powerpop stalwarts, even a little mimosa at brunch is worth this drinking anthem.
6. “Escape (The Pina Colada Song)” by Rupert Holmes
Song year: 1979
Many listeners mistake Rupert Holmes' “Escape (The Pina Colada Song)” for a Jimmy Buffett tune. It's easy to see why. The song is a laid-back, island-time tale of love gone stale that goes down as smooth as a blended co*cktail.
7. “Gin and Juice” by Snoop Dogg
Song year: 1993
Snoop Dogg's “Gin and Juice” is a classic G-funk drinking anthem. It was one of the first of a long line of collaborations between Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg, two artists that go together like the gin and juice Snoop is drinking.
8. “God of Wine” by Third Eye Blind
Song year: 1997
Third Eye Blind's alternative rock ballad “God of Wine” is a darker take on the drinking song. The song's tale of an abusive relationship crescendos with crushing '90s distortion while using the Greek god of wine, Dionysus, as an ironic reference to their dangerous partying.
9. “Red Red Wine” by UB40
Song year: 1983
UB40's cover of the Neil Diamond classic “Red Red Wine” is a sultry reggae version of a song about the drink that helps you forget your lost love. The song's slow tempo and upbeat rhythm feel as mellow as you will after a glass of merlot.
10. “Brass Monkey” by Beastie Boys
Song year: 1987
The Beastie Boys' song “Brass Monkey” is an ode to the co*cktail of the same name. If you love the '80s or hip hop, this funky party jam will ignite your night. Just add vodka, rum, and orange juice and stir.
11. “Streams of Whiskey” by The Pogues
Song year: 1984
The Irish know how to write a drinking song. The Pogues' Shane McGowan made a career of swilling drunken poetry, and “Streams of Whiskey” is one of his finest punk-pub yarns, dedicated to the memory of fellow Irish poet Brendan Behan.
12. “Tubthumping” by Chumbawumba
Song year: 1997
British anarchist pop band Chumbawamba surprised the world with their international hit single “Tubthumping.” The song's positive message and references to alcohol are tailor-made for a barroom sing-along. Just don't mix liquors like the song's protagonist, or you'll be doing a different type of tubthumping.
13. “Closing Time” by Semisonic
Song year: 1998
Alternative rockers Semisonic wrote a loving ballad about the beginnings and endings couched in the lexicon of drinking culture with their hit single “Closing Time.” The song's allusions to the last call at the bar are an apt metaphor for the ebb and flow of time.
14. “Drunk Girls” by LCD Soundsystem
Song year: 2010
LCD Soundsystem blasts their dance-punk sound for the house party anthem “Drunk Girls.” The song is an infectious and danceable nod to getting drunk and hooking up, all with a knowingly wry detachment from the song's narrator. If you want to celebrate your excess, look no further.
15. “Tipsy” by J-Kwon
Song year: 2004
J-Kwon's “Tipsy” is a classic throwback jam perfect for sipping on a drink and grinding on the dancefloor. The boom-bap beat is easy to dance to, and the chorus is simple enough that even after a few drinks, you'll be able to sing along.
16. “Whiskey in the Jar” by Thin Lizzy
Song year: 1972
Thin Lizzy put their signature stamp of dual guitar harmonies on the classic Irish folk song “Whiskey in the Jar.” The song is a sordid tale of robbery and infidelity. With Thin Lizzy's rock swagger, this song is bawdy enough for any barroom.
17. “Drunk on a Plane” by Dierks Bentley
Song year: 2014
Dierks Bentley's country hit, “Drunk on a Plane,” tells the beer-soaked story of a man left at the altar. He decides to take the honeymoon alone, and while he's on the plane, he gets the whole cabin to party with him. It's a classic country drinking song with a twist.
18. “Whiskey River” by Willie Nelson
Song year: 1978
Though he didn't write it, Willie Nelson's “Whiskey River” has become one of his signature songs. The song is a classic country drinking ballad. The only difference is that Nelson doesn't sound sad to be sailing away from the pain with whiskey.
19. “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer” by George Thorogood
Song year: 1977
George Thorogood put a new twist on the blues classic “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer.” The guitarist combined the aforementioned drinking song with John Lee Hooker's “House Rent Boogie” to create a sprawling narrative that gives the protagonist a reason to reach for that bottle.
20. “After the Afterparty” by Charli XCX ft. Lil Yachty
Song year: 2016
Charli XCX's “After Party” is a sing-songy glossy pop banger about keeping the good times going long after the bars close. The song is a good-natured nod to partying hard. Whether you sing it ironically or whole-heartedly, you won't be able to get it out of your head.
21. “Tequila” by The Champs
Song year: 1958
Regardless of how many shots you've had, you won't forget the words to The Champs' hit single “Tequila.” The Spanish-tinged surf rock song is a classic of '50s rock and roll. This song is the perfect complement if you're drinking to get to the worm.
22. “I Drink Beer” by Dan Reeder
Song year: 2006
Dan Reeder wryly sings of his love for drinking in the song “I Drink Beer.” The song is an ironic look at masculinity that also manages to celebrate it. The irony is as rich as the foamy at the top of a pint glass.
23. “Cold Gin” by Kiss
Song year: 1974
Before Kiss became rock stars, they wrote “Cold Gin,” a song about drinking and destitution. The song's hard-rock strut makes even the hard times sound fun, and it serves as a precursor to the more bombastic Kiss sound of future albums.
24. “Rehab” by Amy Winehouse
Song year: 2006
Amy Winehouse took the music industry by storm with her otherworldly, soul-weary voice. Her song “Rehab,” despite its infectiously catchy melody, is a haunting song of excess delivered by someone beyond their years. Raise your glass and toast the haters with this classic kiss-off.
25. “Cigarettes & Alcohol” by Oasis
Song year: 1994
Oasis' hard-rocking “Cigarettes and Alcohol” is the ultimate drinking song. Here we find the notoriously drunken Brit-pop band singing about looking for the deeper meaning in life and realizing that it's partying. Which, in Oasis' estimation, means smokes and booze.
26. “Cheers (Drink to That)” by Rihanna
Song year: 2011
Rihanna's “Cheers (Drink to That)” is a midtempo R&B anthem about celebrating life and having a stiff drink. After a long week at work, Rihanna wants to take shots of Jameson and forget about her haters. I'll drink to that.
27. “Crazy Rap (Colt 45)” by Afroman
Song year: 2000
Rapper Afroman talks about drinking and smoking while telling stories of his sexual exploits in his comedic rap song “Crazy Rap (Colt 45 & 2 Zig-Zags).” While Afroman is definitely NSFW, the bar will love this hip hop tale of getting twisted while trying to get lucky.
28. “Beer (Song)” by Mustard Plug
Song year: 1997
Mustard Plug's ska-punk song about drinking “Beer (Song)” finds the band in dire straits. They've lost their jobs and wives, and life has almost lost all meaning. Fortunately, there's always beer. Sing along to this drinking anthem when all you need to get through life is a cold one.
29. “Tequila Sunrise” by Cypress Hill ft. Barron Ricks
Song year: 1998
Cypress Hill's Mexican-flavored hip hop song about hustling, “Tequila Sunrise,” doubles as a drinking song. The verses lay out life's struggles while the chorus revels in the joy of drinking the group's favorite liquor, making this track the perfect chaser after a round of shots.
30. “Drunken Lullabies” by Flogging Molly
Song year: 2002
Flogging Molly's anti-war song “Drunken Lullabies” combines Celtic folk and punk rock to make a song worthy of raising your glass. While the track tackles serious subject matter, the sing-along chorus contains the hope and swagger of someone that just pulled their stool up to the bar.
31. “Blame It” by Jamie Foxx ft. T-Pain
Song year: 2008
Singer/actor Jamie Foxx won a Grammy Award for making alcohol a scapegoat in his single “Blame It.” This track is a party anthem that name-checks every type of alcohol you could consume while making you want to drink even more of it before hitting the dancefloor.
32. “House Party” by Sam Hunt
Song year: 2014
Sam Hunt resolves to bring the party to you with his infectious country-pop hit “House Party.” While this song is tailor-made for house parties, it's so catchy and fun that you'll want to drink along with it at the bar or on the dancefloor.
33. “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere” by Alan Jackson ft. Jimmy Buffett
Song year: 2003
Country music star Alan Jackson teams up with Jimmy Buffett on this ode to happy hour, “It's Five O'Clock Somewhere.” This song is relatable to anyone that's ever watched the clock waiting for after-work drink time to arrive, and it goes down as sweet as that first drink of the weekend.
34. “Party in the U.S.A.” by Miley Cyrus
Song year: 2009
Miley Cyrus started shedding her Hannah Montana with her all-time classic party anthem, “Party in the U.S.A.” Though the song about fitting in with a new crowd never mentions drinking, its pulsing rhythms and pop culture references mix well with a night out on the town.
35. “Margaritaville” by Jimmy Buffet
Song year: 1977
Jimmy Buffett's “Margaritaville” is the quintessential drinking song. It's so well-known that an entire chain of bars uses its name. Whether you're wearing flip flops or just like the taste of a blended tropical drink, you know and love this classic song.
36. “Tennessee Whiskey” by George Jones
Song year: 1983
George Jones' “Tennessee Whiskey” uses the singer's taste for the hard stuff to describe the beautiful love that he's found in his partner. While the bottle will eventually be empty, Jones has found a love that's always full, so grab your glass and your partner and sing along.
37. “I Think I’ll Just Stay Here and Drink” by Merle Haggard
Song year: 1980
“I Think I'll Just Stay Here and Drink” could be Merle Haggard's mantra. This song appears on the hard-living country music icon's album Back to the Barrooms and encompasses the ethos of his music. For a genre with many great drinking songs, few eclipse this.
38. “Buy You a Drank (Shawty Snappin’)” by T-Pain
Song year: 2007
T-Pain's introduction to the world, “Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin'),” is a party anthem about trying to pick up someone at the club. For those looking for love at the bar or on the dancefloor, this throwback R&B jam is a fitting soundtrack.
39. “Coconut” by Harry Nilsson
Song year: 1971
Harry Nilsson's single “Coconut” is a tropical-tinged pop song about ailments and their cures. It might not be exactly clear what the doctor in this song is prescribing the patient, though my money is on something blended and alcoholic.
40. “In Da Club” by 50 Cent
Song year: 2003
50 Cent wrote the party anthem to end all party anthems with his hip hop classic “In da Club.” The song's catchy beat and lyrics about clubbing are timeless, making this track worthy of singing along anytime a bottle of bubbles is in order.
41. “A Glass of Champagne” by Sailor
Song year: 1975
British pop group Sailor's hit single “Glass of Champagne” is a quirky '70s tune perfect for popping a bottle of bubbles. Over jaunty piano and twelve-string acoustic guitar, Sailor proposes a meeting, though it's clearly more than just a friendly rendezvous.
42. “Bottoms Up” by Trey Songz ft. Nicki Minaj
Song year: 2010
The club banger “Bottoms Up” finds Trey Songz teaming up with Nicki Minaj for a song dedicated entirely to drinking. This song doesn't beat around the bush and will get everyone emptying their glasses and heading onto the dancefloor.
43. “She’s Acting Single” by Gary Stewart
Song year: 1975
Gary Stewart's clever wordplay is evident in his country song about infidelity, “She's Actin' Single (I'm Drinkin' Doubles).” In this honkey tonk track, Stewart knows his lady is up to no good, but he can't stand up for himself. It's a song of heartbreak that barrooms know all too well.
44. “Swimming Pools (Drank)” by Kendrick Lamar
Song year: 2012
Kendrick Lamar's masterful lyricism uses the analogy of swimming to represent his relationship with drinking in his single “Swimming Pools (Drank).” While the song's trap beat and chorus are catchy, Lamar uses the track to deal with the truths behind generational abuse.
45. “Summer Wine” by Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazlewood
Song year: 1966
Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood's “Summer Wine” is a haunting, western-inspired '60s duet. What at first seems to be a song about innocence becomes a tale of crime as we realize that Sinatra's coquettish presentation is merely a front to rob Hazlewood after getting him drunk.
46. “Young, Wild and Free” by Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa ft. Bruno Mars
Song year: 2011
“Young, Wild & Free” is a carefree anthem of youthful excess. The song's catchy piano hook and vocal melody by Bruno Mars are perfectly balanced by the bravado of Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa, making the song sound as free as the lyrics claim to be.
47. “Beercan” by Beck
Song year: 1994
Beck is all about blowing off steam on his '90s alternative rock single, “Beercan.” The song is about drinking, but in classic Beck fashion, it's pretty obtuse. Images of flying pigs, winos playing frisbee, and rainbows color the track with his trademark absurdist flair.
48. “Tennessee Whiskey” by Chris Stapleton
Song year: 2015
Country crooner Chris Stapelton covered “Tennessee Whiskey” and practically turned it into an entirely different song. While other country artists took had success with this ballad, in Stapelton's hands, the track becomes downright soulful and as smooth as a top-shelf whiskey.
49. “S.O.B.” by Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats
Song year: 2015
Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats take the old-school soul approach on their rollicking single “S.O.B.” This song might be about the dangers of excess, but with its soulful rhythms and passionate vocals, they make it sound so fun that you'll be singing and drinking along in no time.
50. “Punks in the Beerlight” by Silver Jews
Song year: 2005
For indie rock fans, The Silver Jews are one of the most celebrated and literate bands of the late '90s and early '00s. Their track “Punks in the Beerlight” examines the irony of using drugs and alcohol to escape your troubles as it becomes an escape from what you love.
51. “Pass the Courvoisier” by Busta Rhymes ft. P. Diddy & Pharrell
Song year: 2001
Busta Rhymes lends his incredible flow to this party song about high-class liquor, “Pass the Courvoisier.” Along with Pharrell and P. Diddy, Busta's ode to brandy is mindless fun that will have you dancing faster than a tall glass of brandy.
52. “Beer Drinkers & Hellraisers” by ZZ Top
Song year: 1973
While they're most famous for cheap sunglasses and matching beards, ZZ Top can throw back beers with the best of them. Their ode to getting rowdy, “Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers,” is a celebration of excess that will either have you raising devil horns or raising your pint glass.
53. “I Will Drink the Wine” by Frank Sinatra
Song year: 1971
Frank Sinatra's legendary command of his voice is a marvel to behold, especially when the song is as cinematic as “I Will Drink the Wine.” This track is a full-throated celebration of life, a promise to enjoy its fruit, and in Sinatra's capable hands, it sounds like an epiphany in a glass.
54. “The Slow Descent Into Alcoholism” by The New p*rnographers
Song year: 2000
The New p*rnographers' “The Slow Descent Into Alcoholism” is a song about excessive drinking that captures the spirit of getting drunk. While many songs about alcoholism view drinking with sadness and despair, this peppy pop-rock tune focuses on the devilish fun of a drunken stupor.
55. “Liquor Store Blues” by Bruno Mars ft. Damian Marley
Song year: 2010
Bruno Mars taps reggae artist Damian Marley for the laid-back groove of his song “Liquor Store Blues.” Mars' pop vocals and Marley's upbeats create a mellow canvas for this story of drinking away the pain of poverty.
56. “Milk and Alcohol” by Dr. Feelgood
Song year: 1979
“Milk and Alcohol” was written after Nick Lowe got drunk on Kahlua and milk while watching a John Lee Hooker concert. Lowe gave the song to Dr. Feelgood to record, and the band's bluesy swagger helped the song reach the top ten in the U.K.
57. “Wasted” by Gucci Mane ft. Plies
Song year: 2009
Gucci Mane's trap party anthem “Wasted” was written by Mane as an attempt to court suburban audiences. The song references slang and names not commonly associated with hip hop. The idea paid off, as the song became one of the rapper's most successful singles.
58. “Sunday Morning Coming Down” by Johnny Cash
Song year: 1970
Johnny Cash's version of the song “Sunday Morning Coming Down” helped put its songwriter, Kris Kristofferson, on the map. The classic tale of the consequences of a rough Saturday night is now part of the canon of country drinking songs, and its writer is famous in his own right.
59. “Another Shot of Whiskey” by The Gits
Song year: 1992
Seattle's punk-laced grunge band The Gits wrote a headbanging ode to drinking with their song “Another Shot of Whiskey.” While the singer is having problems with their significant other and all of life's trials, they know their spot at the bar will always be a comfort.
60. “American Pie” by Don McLean
Song year: 1971
Though Don McLean's sprawling folk song “American Pie” is about rock and roll, its references to whiskey and its sing-along chorus make it a great drinking song. Whether you know all the words or just mumble along, raising a glass to this classic track is a barroom tradition.
61. “Tik Tok” by Kesha
Song year: 2009
Kesha's hit single “Tik Tok” is an electropop anthem about partying till sunrise. The singer's vocal delivery oozes confidence, and the track's lyrical content is brimming with the bravado of youth. This song is the musical equivalent of a round of shots before hitting the dancefloor.
62. “Shots” by LMFAO ft. Lil Jon
Song year: 2009
LMFAO and Lil Jon are not subtle about their excess on the hit single “Shots.” This song is abashedly about taking stiff drinks and getting lucky. So, line up those shots and get ready to turn up the night with this banger!
63. “Honky Tonk Women” by The Rolling Stones
Song year: 1969
The Rolling Stones' “Honky Tonk Women” is a classic of barroom jukeboxes thanks to its strutting, boozy swagger. With Keith Richards' country-inflected lead guitar and Mick Jagger's braggadocious lyrics, this song is a nod to barflies still hung up on the one that got away.
Top Drinking Songs Of All Time, Final Thoughts
From happy hour to the last call, nothing mixes with a great drink quite like a drinking song. Whether they're dancefloor-ready party anthems or solitary barstool ballads, these songs will always accentuate our experiences.
It doesn't matter if you're in a tropical escape or a honkey tonk hideout, just raise your glass and drink along with our list of the best drinking songs ever. Be sure to tip your bartender. Cheers!
