Rattlin Bog Drinking Game: The St. Patrick’s Day Party Time

Picture this: a room full of rowdy friends, drinks in hand, trying desperately to keep up with an Irish folk song that only gets faster, more chaotic, and far more difficult as the night goes on. That, my friends, is the Rattlin’ Bog Drinking Game—a test of endurance, memory, and, let’s be honest, your ability to hold your liquor.

If you’re looking for the perfect drinking game for St. Patrick’s Day, an Irish pub night, or just a wild party challenge, this is it. But beware—few make it to the end without slurring the lyrics or collapsing into laughter. Let’s dive into the madness!

What Is the Rattlin Bog Drinking Game?

The Rattlin’ Bog is a traditional Irish folk song that follows a cumulative pattern, meaning each verse builds upon the previous one. It starts slow but speeds up with every round, making it increasingly difficult to sing along—especially after a few drinks!

The drinking game version takes full advantage of this accelerating chaos. The faster the song gets, the more mistakes players make, and the more drinks they take. Simple, yet brutally effective.

Why This Game Is a Party Favorite

• Easy to Learn – No complicated setup, just a song and some drinks.
• Uncontrollable Chaos – As the song speeds up, so does the drinking!
• Perfect for St. Paddy’s Day – Embrace your inner Irish party spirit.
• Hilarious to Watch – Especially when people inevitably fail miserably.

How to Play the Rattlin Bog Drinking Game

What You’ll Need

• Drinks of choice (beer, whiskey, or whatever fuels your reckless decisions)
• A group of willing (and possibly foolish) participants
• A speaker or phone to play The Rattlin’ Bog (find it on YouTube or Spotify)

Step-by-Step Rules

1. Start the Song – Hit play on The Rattlin’ Bog.
2. Everyone Sings Along – Try your best to keep up!
3. Take a Sip – Every time a new lyric layer is added.
4. Penalty Drinks – If you mess up, forget the lyrics, or stop singing.
5. Speed Kills – As the song gets faster, the drinking (and mistakes) increase.
6. Survival Mode – If you make it to the end without missing a beat, you win! (But let’s be real, nobody does.)

Rattlin Bog Lyrics & Drinking Cues

The key to this game is knowing when to drink. Here’s a quick breakdown:

• Take a sip at the end of each verse.
• Take a penalty drink if you miss a word or can’t keep up.
• Take a shot if you completely stop singing.

Sample Verse (It Gets Longer Every Time!)

🎶 “Oh, ho, the rattlin’ bog, The bog down in the valley-oh! And in that bog there was a tree, A rare tree, A rattlin’ tree…” 🎶

By the time you get to “And on that egg there was a bird, A rare bird, A rattlin’ bird…” the struggle is real.

Fun Variations of the Rattlin Bog Drinking Game

1. The “One-Man Band” Challenge 

For those who think drinking and multitasking go well together!

• Before starting, each player gets a random instrument (toy tambourines, kazoos, maracas, or even pots and spoons).
• While playing the game, you must “play” your instrument in time with the song.
• Mess up your rhythm? Take a drink.
• Forget to play at all? Chug your drink.
• Accidentally create an actually good Irish band? Congratulations, you’re now booked for next year’s St. Paddy’s parade.

2. The Reverse Leprechaun Mode 

Because drunk people love doing things backwards.

• Normally, you drink when a new lyric is added.
• In this version, you drink when a lyric is removed (meaning, at the end of each verse when you’re repeating the earlier ones).
• By the end, you’re drinking almost every second because the song speeds up like a demonic Irish rollercoaster.
• Bonus Rule: Every time you say bog incorrectly, you must wear a ridiculous green hat for the next round.

3. The Bog Monster Rule

Because every great game needs a villain.

• Before the game starts, one person is secretly designated as the Bog Monster (aka, the person most likely to sabotage the game).
• The Bog Monster’s job is to randomly mess with people—stealing their drinks, singing louder to confuse others, or making up fake lyrics.
• If someone gets tricked by the Bog Monster, they must finish their drink.
• If the Bog Monster gets caught, THEY have to finish a drink AND do an Irish jig.
• Warning: Choose your Bog Monster wisely, or this could turn into The Purge (Irish edition).

4. The Irish Riverdance Mode 

Dancing and drinking? What could possibly go wrong?

• Every time the song speeds up, you must stand up and perform a little Irish dance (or at least attempt to).
• If you mess up your footwork, drink.
• If someone falls over, they take a shot.
• Last person standing at the end wins… if they can still stand.

5. The Lord of the Drinks Version 

A survival mode for the strong (or stupid).

• Before playing, everyone must declare their “drink limit” (e.g., 5 drinks, 8 drinks, etc.).
• If you reach your limit, you can either tap out or challenge someone to a sudden-death chugging battle.
• The last player remaining who hasn’t tapped out, puked, or blacked out is officially declared Lord of the Drinks.
• Bonus Rule: The winner gets a DIY Rattlin’ Bog Crown (a beer box cut into a crown shape).

6. The Lost in the Bog Memory Game 

As if remembering lyrics wasn’t hard enough, let’s add an extra challenge!

• Before the game, write down random Irish trivia questions (like What’s the capital of Ireland? or Name three famous Irish celebrities).
• Every time someone forgets a lyric, they must answer a trivia question before taking their penalty drink.
• Get the question wrong? DOUBLE the drink.
• If you get three wrong in a row, you must wear a giant shamrock necklace and accept your fate as the group’s “Drunken Druid.”

7. The “Pot o’ Gold” Prize Edition 

Because we all need an incentive to destroy our livers.

• Before starting, put a small prize (or ridiculous dare) in a “Pot o’ Gold”.
• The winner (who survives the game the longest without major screw-ups) gets to pick a random prize from the pot.
• Some prize ideas:
  • A free drink at the bar.
  • A ridiculous St. Patrick’s Day costume they must wear next year.
  • A mystery envelope with a dare inside (e.g., “Speak in an Irish accent for the next hour”).
• Losers must buy the winner’s next drink.

8. The Irish Pub Crawl Mode 

Because why stay in one place when you can make it an adventure?

• Instead of playing in one location, take the game on the road.
• Each verse of The Rattlin’ Bog is played in a different pub/bar.
• If you mess up a lyric, you must take a shot before moving to the next location.
• Bonus Rule: At the final bar, everyone must attempt a full-speed version of the song. If anyone nails it, they win a free drink from the group. (Spoiler: No one will win.)

If the original Rattlin’ Bog Drinking Game wasn’t wild enough for you, these variations will definitely turn your night into a legendary (and blurry) Irish adventure. 

How to Throw an Unforgettable Irish Night? 

Want to turn your drinking game into a full-blown Irish experience? Here’s how to set the mood and throw the best party of the year.

The Ultimate Irish Drink Menu

• Guinness – Classic and smooth.
• Jameson Shots – Dangerous but festive.
• Irish Car Bombs – Drop a shot of whiskey and Baileys into Guinness. Chug before it curdles.
• Green Beer – Because why not?

The Perfect Irish Drinking Songs Playlist

Aside from The Rattlin’ Bog, queue up:

• Whiskey in the Jar – The Pogues
• Drunken Sailor – Irish Rovers
• Rocky Road to Dublin – The Dubliners
• Wild Rover – Dropkick Murphys version
• I’m Shipping Up to Boston – Flogging Molly (for extra chaos)

Decorations & Ambience

• Shamrock everything.
• Irish flag banners.
• Fairy lights & candles for that pub vibe.
• DIY Beer Pong Table—paint it green and gold.

Alternate Music Drinking Games You Should Try

If Rattlin’ Bog isn’t wild enough, here are other songs that would make ridiculous drinking games:

“99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall” Challenge 

• Every time you sing a line, you take a sip.
• If you mess up, start back at 99 (just kidding… but imagine).

“We Didn’t Start the Fire” Chaos Mode 

• Every time Billy Joel mentions a new event, take a sip.
• If you forget the words, take a shot.
• You’ll be hammered before we even reach JFK blown away, what else do I have to say?

“Cotton Eye Joe” Drinking Game 

• Every time you hear Cotton Eye Joe, you take a drink.
• If you accidentally dance, chug.
• You will not survive a country bar night.

“Bohemian Rhapsody” Intensity Mode 

• Take a sip every time the song changes style (ballad, opera, rock, etc.).
• If you miss a high note, take a shot.
• If you actually sing it perfectly, everyone else finishes their drinks.

“Thunderstruck” Endurance Challenge 

• Everyone stands in a circle with their drink.
• One person starts drinking when AC/DC sings “Thunder!” and must keep drinking until the next “Thunder!” is sung.
• The next person takes over, and it keeps going.
• Some unlucky soul will get stuck with the long guitar solo—good luck.

“Roxanne” Battle Mode 🚨🍺

• Divide into two teams:
  • Team Roxanne drinks when the song says “Roxanne”.
  • Team Red Light drinks when the song says “red light”.
• If you accidentally drink on the wrong word, you take an extra penalty drink.
• By the end, everyone is a mess.

The Rattlin’ Bog Workout Challenge

Not drinking tonight? Or just looking for a new way to suffer? Try this workout version of The Rattlin’ Bog!

Rattlin’ Bog Fitness Rules

• Each time a new lyric is added, do an exercise.
• Mess up the lyrics? Double your reps.
• Song gets faster? You have to keep pace.

Example Workout Routine

• First verse: 5 push-ups
• Next verse: 10 squats
• Additions: Burpees, jumping jacks, planks, wall sits

Warning:

• By the end of the song, you’ll be dripping sweat.
• If you make it through without collapsing, you are officially a Rattlin’ Bog Warrior.

Are You Ready for the Ultimate Rattlin’ Bog Experience?

Now you’re armed with everything you need to turn this drinking game into an unforgettable, hilarious, and possibly disastrous event.

🍻Which version are you trying first? The One-Man Band Mode? The Bog Monster Sabotage? Or are you brave enough to attempt The Rattlin’ Bog Workout Challenge?

FAQs About the Rattlin Bog Drinking Game