Johnny Cash was proud to be an American, and his song “Ragged Old Flag” proves it.
The Air Force veteran revealed his admiration for the American flag in his single “Ragged Old Flag,” which he composed himself for his 1974 album of the same title. The song is in spoken-word style, so Cash spoke the lyrics more often than he sang them.
When the song’s narrator tells a man that the town courthouse flag looks ragged, the man tells him why he is proud of the flag anyway.
He details everything the flag has been through over the years, from crossing the Delaware with Washington, to being burned by protesters.
It includes lyrics such as:
“So we raise her up every morning, and we bring her down slow 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.”
The Reason Why Johnny Cash Wrote “Ragged Old Flag” Revealed
Cash was inspired to write “Ragged Old Flag” in an effort to revive patriotism in the country following the 1972 Watergate scandal. Two years after the ordeal, President Nixon resigned from office. But his resignation came nearly five months after Cash released “Ragged Old Flag.”
Many of the other songs on Cash’s Ragged Old Flag album also address important topics, including “Don’t Go Near the Water.” Cash wrote the track about environmental issues occurring at the time.
“Ragged Old Flag” still has power today. Prior to Super Bowl LI in Houston, Texas, in 2017, Fox Sports aired a patriotic clip featuring it. You can watch that clip below.
Subsequent Super Bowls have also featured the song before “The Big Game.” It played before Super Bowl LIV in 2020 and prior to Super Bowl LVII in 2023.
Hats off to Johnny Cash for writing such a meaningful song that has truly stood the test of time. It resonates even more strongly this year (2026), as the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary.
