21 Best Country Walk-Up Songs
Contents
“Second One To Know” by Chris Stapleton
Song Year: 2017
Chris Stapleton has won over almost every critic in the world, so why shouldn’t he have a shin-kicking walk-up song for some baseball players?
“Second One To Know” has a driving guitar riff that makes it one of those songs where you wonder why, exactly, anyone calls it a country song because it rocks. And the overall message of the song? Don’t mess with me, buddy.
“Shoot From The Hip” by Brothers Osborne
Song Year: 2014
The jangly guitar and the whistle in the opening of “Shoot From The Hip” give the song a certain The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly vibe. And an ominous gunfighter standoff is an apt metaphor for the battle between pitcher and batter, so this song makes an apt choice for a walk-up.
Trea Turner, shortstop and second baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies, has used “Shoot From the Hip” in the past, and the song brings with it a swagger since the lyrics encourage the listener to be bold and be themselves.
“South On Ya” by Luke Combs
Song Year: 2017
Luke Combs mentions several southern states in the lyrics of “South On Ya,” and the SEC Network used the song during on-air college football events a couple of seasons ago.
So it’s a proven sports-related song. It’s got a real rock feel, and Combs’ vocals bring excitement to the track. It’s got a celebratory feel, and with just one listen, you can easily imagine the song hyping up a crowd as a batter dons his helmet and heads for the batter’s box.
“Welcome to the Show” by Cody Johnson
Song Year: 2016
No matter what the song sounds like, “Welcome to the Show” would merit consideration as a walk-up song just from its title — The Show is what baseball players call the major leagues.
Full disclosure, it’s not about baseball at all, but about the gargantuan spectacle known as the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. So there’s mention of the nation’s fourth largest city, the hurricanes that occasionally hit it, and all sorts of rodeo activities.
But if you’re a Houston Astro and you choose this boot-stomper as a walk-up, the home crowd will cheer. Loudly.
“5-1-5-0” by Dierks Bentley
Song Year: 2012
Dierks Bentley brings his trademark country-rock sound to “5-1-5-0” and imbues it with excitement — the kind you feel when there’s just a hint of danger involved.
No matter what the lyrics say, the catchy chorus is a proven crowd-pleaser (it was a number-two hit). But lyrics matter, and here, they add to the fun. The narrator insists that he’s going crazy, as if he is the danger. Put that attitude on a batter stepping to the plate, and you’ve got a hero in the making.
“Cruise” by Florida Georgia Line
Song Year: 2012
Florida Georgia Line’s country pop provides a nice, chilled-out feeling for a night at the ballpark.
“Cruise” came from the group’s 2012 EP and appeared on their debut full-length album, Here’s to the Good Times, so it was one of the first songs the world heard from the country duo.
It’s not the kind of song to intimidate the opposing team, but it will probably get the hometown crowd singing along, as it feels like a song that would get played loud at a party or a ball game.
“Dirt On My Boots” by Jon Pardi
Song Year: 2016
John Pardi’s California Sunrise spawned five singles in 2016, one of which was “Dirt on My Boots,” a minor-key honky-tonk piece with some modern country elements. That seems to be Pardi’s brand, and it works, especially with the lyrical content, which is pretty much, “This is the way I am, like it or not.”
Confidence oozes from this one (especially the guitar solo), so it’s a good walk-up song — any batter worth his salt has to know that he’s got what it takes when he faces a pitcher, right?
“Hillbilly Deluxe” by Brooks & Dunn
Song Year: 2005
The title track of a later Brooks & Dunn album, “Hillbilly Deluxe” blends country and rock with a quick tempo. It rose to number eight on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and had some crossover success, so as a walk-up song, it would appeal to a wider demographic, since not everyone at the ballpark listens to country music exclusively.
“Locomotive” by Miranda Lambert
Song Year: 2019
Aptly, “Locomotive” kicks off with a guitar riff that hits you like a freight train. Miranda Lambert herself calls the song a country-punk piece of music, and the feeling of near chaos permeating the piece makes for a crowd-pleasing song.
A batter walking up to this song probably has some juice he’s about to bring to the plate.
“Summertime” by Kenny Chesney
Song Year: 2006
Kenny Chesney has cultivated an image of being something like country-music’s-Jimmy Buffett. “Summertime” fits right in with that beachy, country hippie thing he’s got going on.
The pleasures of summer that he ticks off in the number-one hit’s lyrics are only missing “baseball games,” but even so, the good-times feeling would play well at the ballpark.
Country Walk-Up Songs, Final Thoughts
Choosing a walk-up song is an individual process. Players may want to send a message about themselves, their team’s superiority, or even just say, “Let’s have fun tonight.” When players look for a country walk-up song, these one represent a good place to start the search.
