Pulp Reimagine Johnny Cash’s ‘the Man Comes around’ for ITV Drama ‘The Hack’

pulp recently shared a moody and sultry cover of Johnny cash’s ‘The Man Comes Around’,recorded for the drama series The Hack.

Jarvis Cocker and the band deliver a distinctive spin on the Cash classic, which featured prominently in The Hack. The ITV series documents the 2011 phone hacking scandal that lead to the closure of The News of the world.

Rough Trade announced the cover on Instagram today (November 24), with Cocker stating: “‘The Man Comes Around’ is a cover of a song by another JC: johnny Cash, no less”.

Unlike cash’s stripped-back country original,Pulp’s version embraces an ambient and open soundscape. Cocker’s vocals adopt an intriguing, spoken-word style over swirling instrumentals.

The Hack utilizes the song during the moment the public learns about the hacking scandal and its connection to the Milly Dowler case.

Director Lewis arnold specifically requested the track for this scene, recognizing its symbolic lyrics of judgment and reckoning. He chose a British artist to cover the song to better align with the series’ context.

Screenwriter Jack Thorne (Adolescence, National Treasure, Enola Holmes) advocated for Cocker’s involvement, previously calling the frontman his “hero” and citing Pulp’s Glastonbury performance of ‘Common People’ as a defining moment.