Monday, February 2, 2009

That Ragged Old Flag

I walked through a county courthouse squareOn a park bench, an old man was sittin' there.I said, "Your old court house is kinda run down, He said, "Naw, it'll do for our little town". I said, "Your old flag pole is leaned a little bit, And that's a ragged old flag you got hangin' 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 ofThat 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"It got a rip in New Orleans, with Packingham & Jacksontugging 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 and Beauregard and Bragg,And the south wind blew hard onThat Ragged Old Flag"On Flanders Field in World War I,She got a big hole from a Bertha Gun,She turned blood red in World War IIShe hung limp, and low, a time or two,She was in Korea, Vietnam, She went where she was sentby her Uncle Sam.She waved from our ships upon the briny foamand now they've about quit wavin' back here at homein her own good land here She's been abused,She's been burned, dishonored, denied an' refused,And the government for which she standsHas been scandalized throughout out the land.And she's getting thread bare, and she's wearin' thin,But she's in good shape, for the shape she's in.Cause she's been through the fire beforeand i believe she can take a whole lot more."So we raise her up every morningAnd we bring her down slow every night,We don't let her touch the ground,And we fold her up right.On second thoughtI *do* like to bragCause I'm mighty proud ofThat Ragged Old Flag"

5 comments:

Frances said...

I am proud of that 'ragged old flag', too, Johnny G. It is sad that not all Americans (or at least some that say they are Americans) will salute it!!!

Paula said...

Beautiful.

Lisa said...

Count me as one who is proud of that "ragged old flag" too.

Unknown said...

What a great post! I am also proud of our ragged old flag. Thanks for sharing that one :)

Amelia said...

That was a lovely story.

*M*