Ragged Old Flag was released in 1974 by Columbia Records, produced by Johnny Cash himself. The album is a concept album centered on patriotism and American history, with the title track being a spoken-word monologue about the resilience of the American flag.
The album includes covers of songs by other artists, such as 'Lonesome to the Bone' by Kris Kristofferson and 'The Ballad of Annie Palmer' by Shel Silverstein. Cash also recorded a version of 'King of the Hill' by his son-in-law, country singer Larry Gatlin.
Although not one of Cash's most commercially successful albums, it reached number 16 on the Billboard country albums chart. The title track has become one of Cash's most iconic songs, often performed live and associated with his patriotic image.