The campfire circle at night — the setting where the song is sung, every year. 2021.
The Kegger Backpack Song is a tradition within the tradition. It gets sung around the fire, usually Saturday evening, with varying degrees of accuracy depending on where the keg is in its life cycle at that point. Pat Williams delivers a three-word solo. There is a pause to toast the tree. Everyone hollers at the end.
The 2025 version below is the Jubilee Edition — updated for the 50th annual. The core verses are the same ones that have been sung for decades. Per Tom.
The Official Kegger Backpack Song
Jubilee Version, 2025 · Per Tom McGonigle
Oh, we had a little party on The Island
There was Harry, there was Larry, there was Grace — poor Grace.
Oh we had a little party on The Island,
And we had to carry Larry from the place.
And we had to carry Larry to the ferry,
And we had to carry Larry to the shore.
And the reason we had to carry Larry to the ferry
was that Larry couldn't carry any more.
— Pause for Pat Williams' 3-word Solo to Larry —
Kegger Backpack, Kegger Backpack
We're here to do or die
Kegger Backpack, Kegger Backpack
We'll drink this beer or know the reason why
And when we're through, we'll buy a case of booze
And we'll drink to the Kegger Backpack till we wobble in our shoes
Sing DRINK — tra-la-la, DRINK — tra-la-la,
Drink → Drank → Drunk last night — drunk the night before,
Gonna get drunk tonight like I never been drunk before
Cuz when I'm drunk I'm as happy as can be,
Cuz I am a member of the FUN Family
And the Fun Family is the best family
That ever threw parties by this old tree
— Pause and toast the tree —
Oh there's 27 trails, and there are no trails
And all trails lead to The Island
Sing Glorious — Victorious —
One Keg a Beer for the four of us
Sing Glory be to God there are no more of us
Cuz one of us could drink it all alone — Damn Near
— Let's do the Holler —Soooo-Deeeee!!!
The fire pit — before and after
Saturday night — the song gets sung here, around this fire, to these people.Sunday morning. The same fire pit, cold and quiet. The rocks will be here next year too.
The logos — the keg carry on everything
The two figures carrying the keg on a stretcher have appeared on nearly every piece of Kegger swag for decades — shirts, mugs, koozies, stickers. Two versions exist side by side:
The original logo — drawn by Justin, traced from a friend's example. The one that started it all.Jane's version — a variation on the classic. Both versions have appeared on swag over the years.
