(from dick greenhaus) To me, at least, a drinking song (in England) seems to be a song praising drink: BACK AND SIDE GO BARE, Good Ale, Barley Mow, Landlord Fill the Flowing Bowl, etc. In the States, there are relatively few of these, at least prior to 1900. Most American deinking songs were either warnings about the perils of drink, or songs (like Sweet Adeline) that were sung while drinking. Little Brown Jug is an exception, but I don't know how old it is. Just musing on the Puritan/Methodist ethic in America.