Rock 2002

The Man Comes Around as a Walkup Song

by Johnny Cash

Preview

Is "The Man Comes Around" a good walkup song?

Quietly the most menacing walkup song in baseball. The slower tempo, the dark religious imagery, Johnny Cash's voice — nothing else sounds like it on a baseball field. For a closer or pitcher who wants the song to do the intimidating instead of just hyping, this is the deepest cut.

Notable players who've used it

The Man Comes Around is a cult-favorite walkup — particularly among finesse pitchers and command guys who want their entrance to feel quietly menacing instead of aggressive. Used sparingly in MLB but legendary among players who pick it. The song became a closer entrance picking up momentum throughout the 2010s.

How to trim "The Man Comes Around" for a walkup

Start at 0:35, run for 22 seconds. Skip the spoken-word opening. Trim into the guitar and 'There's a man going around' line.

The trim point is the difference between a great walkup song and a great walkup. A song's first 15-20 seconds rarely happen to be the best 15-20 seconds — most popular tracks have a build, an intro, or a bridge before the hook lands. Pick the slice that hits hardest. The last second of your trim window should land on a peak, right as the player steps into the box.

Best for

• Closers
• Pitchers
• Veterans

Clean / explicit version notes

"The Man Comes Around" has no explicit content — it's safe for any age and any league. No need for a clean version or careful trimming. Pick the song, set the trim, lock it in.

Songs that pair well with "The Man Comes Around"

If "The Man Comes Around" is on your shortlist, these are the walkup songs players most often consider alongside it. Same vibe, same energy, same kind of moment at the plate.

• Hells Bells — AC/DC
• For Whom the Bell Tolls — Metallica
• Enter Sandman — Metallica

How to set up "The Man Comes Around" for your team

Setting up a walkup song requires three things: an app that handles per-player audio, custom trim points, and one-tap playback on game day.

1. Build your roster in Walkup Pro — assign "The Man Comes Around" to the player who picked it
2. Scrub to 0:35 and set the trim duration to 22 seconds
3. Connect a Bluetooth speaker at the field (a JBL Charge or similar will cover any youth field — see our guide to the best Bluetooth speakers for a baseball field)
4. On game day, tap to play as the player walks to the box

For a complete game-day setup walkthrough, see how to play walkup songs at baseball games. For more on what makes a great walkup work, see the anatomy of the perfect walkup song.