There are many editions of the early 19th century favorite "Auld Lang Syne" with the words by Robert Burns. Other popular songs of that period were "The Glasses Sparkle on the Board" and "Kiss the Brim and Bid it Pass", and in subsequent decades many drinking songs were published. Two amusing songs were "Brandy and Water" of 1853 by Julian Carle (the tune to "Here's to Good Old Yale, Drink Her Down"); and "The Rollicking Rams" of 1869 by Charles J. Miers. In the 1860s "Champagne Charlie" by Alfred Lee and George Leybourne enjoyed a great success. In the 1880s Felix McGlennon wrote the music to"But Oh What a Difference in the Morning" which appeared in many editions with words by several authors. Harry von Tilzer's beer song "Down Where the Wurzburger Flows" appeared in 1902 and was followed by the popular songs lamenting prohibition such as "Alcoholic Blues" and "America Never Took Water and America Never Will".

In the 1840s many temperance societies were formed in the eastern part of the United States, and a number of temperance songs in this collection appeared between the 1850s and the 1870s. Mrs. M.A. Kidder wrote the words and Mrs. E.A. Parkhurst the music to many songs.

There are about 20 songs which relate to smoking. These range in date from 1836 to 1938. Some have attractive covers, such as "La Fumatrice", 1868, the first female smoker to be depicted on a sheet music cover.