About the song
Johnny Cash’s “Ragged Old Flag” is a powerful and poignant patriotic anthem that has resonated with audiences for decades. Released in 1967, the song became a number-one hit on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, showcasing Cash’s distinctive voice and his ability to convey deep emotions through his music.
The song’s intro immediately sets the stage with a simple, acoustic guitar accompaniment. Cash’s gravelly vocals then come in, delivering the lyrics with a sense of reverence and respect. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the American flag, a symbol of the nation’s history, values, and aspirations.
One of the song’s most memorable aspects is its haunting chorus, in which Cash sings, “Ragged old flag, you’ve waved so long, you’ve seen us through so many things.” The chorus emphasizes the flag’s enduring presence in the lives of Americans, a constant reminder of their nation’s past and future.
The song’s production is stripped-down and minimalist, allowing Cash’s vocals and the lyrics to take center stage. The arrangement creates a sense of intimacy and reflection, inviting listeners to connect with the song on a personal level.
“Ragged Old Flag” is a testament to the power of music to evoke strong emotions and inspire patriotism. Its timeless melody, evocative lyrics, and Cash’s powerful performance have made it a beloved classic that continues to resonate with audiences of all ages. The song’s enduring popularity is a testament to Cash’s legacy and his ability to create music that transcends time and genre.
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Lyrics
I walked through a county courthouse square
On a park bench an old man was sitting there
I said, your old courthouse is kinda run down
He said, naw, it’ll do for our little town
I said, your old flagpole has leaned a little bit
And that’s a ragged old flag you got hanging on it
He said, have a seat, and I sat down
Is this the first time you’ve been to our little town?
I said, I think it is
He said, I don’t like to brag
But we’re kinda proud of that ragged old flag
You see, we got a little hole in that flag there when
Washington took it across the Delaware
And it got powder-burned the night Francis Scott Key
Sat watching it writing say can you see
And it got a bad rip in New Orleans
With Packingham and Jackson tuggin’ at its seams
And it almost fell at the Alamo
Beside the texas flag, but she waved on though
She got cut with a sword at Chancellorsville
And she got cut again at Shiloh Hill
There was Robert E. Lee, Beauregard, and Bragg
And the south wind blew hard on that ragged old flag
On Flanders field in World War one
She got a big hole from a Bertha gun
She turned blood red in World War Two
She hung limp and low a time or two
She was in Korea and Vietnam
She went where she was sent by Uncle Sam
She waved from our ships upon the Briny foam
And now they’ve about quit waving her back here at home
In her own good land here she’s been abused
She’s been burned, dishonored, denied, and refused
And the government for which she stands
Is scandalized throughout the land
And she’s getting threadbare and wearing thin
But she’s in good shape for the shape she’s in
‘Cause she’s been through the fire before
And I believe she can take a whole lot more
So we raise her up every morning
We take her down every night
We don’t let her touch the ground and we fold her up right
On second thought, I do like to brag
‘Cause I’m mighty proud of that ragged old flag