“Parting Glass” and “I’m A Man You Don’t Meet Everyday”.
I guess neither of these would have to be set entirely in bars, but they sure sound like they are.
Here Comes A Regular - The Replacements
“Well a person can work up a mean, mean thirst
After a hard day of nothing much at all”
How did we get this far without mentioning Jimmy Buffett’s “Why Don’t We Get Drunk”?
Also, Master Of The House, my favourite song in the show. Okay, it’s set in an inn, with some parts about the bedroooms and the food, but I think it counts.
Bumping to mention my all time favorite Kinky Friedman song They Ain’t Making Jews Like Jesus Anymore. Based on a true incident when a man in a bar told Kinky he should act more like Jesus, and he replied with the song’s title.
They ain’t makin’ Jews like Jesus anymore
They ain’t makin’ carpenters who know what nails are for
Well, the whole damn place was singin’
As I strolled right out the door
“Lord, they ain’t makin’ Jews like Jesus anymore!”
Soggy Pretzels by Neil Diamond
He also did “Brother, my cup is empty.”
Just the two?
Also:
Time, Drink 'Em Up
Drink the Night Away
Alligator Arms
Another Stupid Drinking Song
Girls’ Night in Galway
Back To the Pub, about visiting Ireland but not seeing anything but the inside of bars.
Piña Colada in a Pint Glass, I guess not entirely inside the bar, but pretty close. I’d admit a bartender stuck in a dead end pub daydreaming about a nicer, tropical pub.
Bartender Song by Rehab
We Are Young by Fun
Listen to Jason Isbell’s Elephant, conversation between a patron/friend and bartender… you won’t be sorry…
We Are Young by Fun.
Mickey Gilley’s Don’t The Girls All Get Prettier At Closing Time, although the bar is more imaginary than real.
Jim Croce had a few. Besides the verses describing the characters’ backstories, all the events in “Roller Derby Queen,” “You Don’t Mess Around with Jim,” and “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown” take place in bars or pool rooms. “Top Hat Bar and Grill” is a straighter example.
Bennie the Bouncer by ELP.
Disqualified because it isn’t set entirely in a bar, but I think Double by Michael Knott/LSU belongs here.
It’s 5 O clock Somewhere - Alan Jackson
With the exception of entering in the first stanza, Sultans of Swing by Dire Straits takes place in a bar.
A Little Hungover You - Roger Clyne
Don’t think I’ve seen this mentioned yet: The Winner by Bobby Bare.
Set entirely in a bar except for the last four line.