Johnny Cash Flashback: ‘Ragged Old Flag’

In April 1974, Johnny Cash, released one of his many "message" songs. And although "Ragged Old Flag," couldn't pull Cash out of his radio-hit slump, as he had no Top Ten singles from 1973 to 1976, it became one of his most cherised. The patriotic song stalled just outside the Top Thirty and the album barely cracked the Top 20.

"I thank God for all the freedoms we've got in this country. I cherish them," Cash says in the clip above, "even the right to burn the flag." As the crowd began booing, he continued, "let me tell ya somethin'," he says in the video, as the crowd protested. "Shhh. . . we've also got a right to bear arms and if you burn my flag, I'll shoot ya."