Some songs are written from the heart. Others are written from the floor of a bathroom at 8 a.m. with the lights off and a splitting headache. These are the ones for after the party—songs that know the pain, the regrets, the mystery bruises, and the promises you probably won’t keep. Here’s your unofficial hangover recovery playlist, alphabetized for your convenience but in no way approved by your liver.
AC/DC – “Ride On”
Bon Scott trades swagger for solitude on this moody slow-burner. It’s the morning after, and the room is still spinning, but it’s the loneliness that really hurts.
Alice Cooper – “From the Inside”
Cooper doesn’t just flirt with rock bottom—he checks in, unpacks, and writes a concept album about it. This title track captures a life where hangovers outnumber healthy days.
Billy Joel – “Big Shot”
Brutal and biting, Joel calls out a friend for their wild night—and their even wilder ego. Sympathy? Not here. This is piano-driven scorn in its finest form.
Black Sabbath – “Trashed”
Ian Gillan turns a near-death drunken joyride into the loudest PSA ever recorded. Flipping a car into a pool? That’s not just a hangover—that’s a legend.
George Thorogood & The Destroyers – “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer”
This blues-rock classic is less about the hangover and more about the buildup. Eviction notices and heartbreak go down smooth with the right liquor, until reality hits.
Janis Joplin – “What Good Can Drinkin’ Do?”
Joplin saw through the illusion. Booze doesn’t fix anything—it just delays the pain until sunrise. A raw, bluesy lament that still hits hard decades later.
Katy Perry – “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)”
If hangovers could wear glitter and lip gloss, they’d sound like this. A bubblegum recounting of mayhem, mystery bruises, and decisions best left in the dark.
Max Webster – “Hangover”
This Canadian prog-rock opener says it all in the title. A slow-burning riff, a plea for mercy, and the bitter taste of too much fun.
Peter Frampton – “Do You Feel Like We Do”
Written with a wine glass still in reach, Frampton turns confusion into an epic jam. Memory loss never sounded so smooth—or so full of wah-wah pedal.
Pink – “Sober”
Pink brings both vulnerability and power to this modern post-party confession. It’s the internal hangover that hits hardest, and she doesn’t flinch from facing it.
The Who – “Who Are You”
Piecing together a foggy night, Roger Daltrey channels Pete Townshend’s drunken mess into rock history. If you’ve ever blacked out mid-argument, this one’s for you.
Toby Keith – “I Love This Bar”
Keith’s hangover is still in progress. He’s not leaving the scene of the crime—he’s just topping off the same glass and calling it tradition.
Van Halen – “Take Your Whiskey Home”
David Lee Roth might be numb, but his girlfriend’s done. This acoustic-to-electric rocker captures the exact moment when booze stops being funny.
ZZ Top – “Cheap Sunglasses”
You can’t cure a hangover, but you can hide it. Billy Gibbons’ advice? Put on your shades, fake a strut, and get through the day in style.
Bonus Tip: Don’t take life advice from rock stars—but absolutely take the playlist.
These songs might not fix your pounding headache, but they’ll at least keep you company while the coffee brews and the regrets settle in. Got a favorite hangover anthem? There’s always room on the list—right next to your Advil.
