The Time Johnny Cash Was Arrested For Picking Flowers

For the earlier part of his career, Johnny Cash found himself behind bars on numerous occasions. Whether it was drug possession, reckless driving, or public intoxication, the man was no stranger to the pitfalls of partying. However, there was one unlawful action that would throw him in jail for a rather unexpected reason. Were self-inducing substances involved, yes. But, in this instance, the punishment did not fit the crime whatsoever.

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To get straight to the point, in 1965 Johnny Cash was arrested in Starkville, Mississippi for picking flowers. Now, there is far more context that led to the arrest, but still, Cash was thrown in jail for picking a few dandelions and daisies.

Johnny Cash at Mississippi State University

Prior to the arrest, Cash performed a show at MSU and subsequently, he did what any musician would do, he went out on the town. Reportedly, at the end of the night, Cash was feeling good, to say the least. That being so, when he was ready to call it a night he sauntered over to the nearest convenience store to buy some cigarettes. It just so happens the shortcut he took was through a farmer’s private field.

Despite the youthful innocence of the act, Cash was still arrested by authorities for trespassing. He was then taken to Starkville Jail, spent a night in jail, and then had to pay a $36 fine. Matter of fact, the arrest inspired Johnny Cash to write the song “Starkville City Jail.” In the recording, Cash gives a folkloric personal anecdote about the evening and his feelings toward it.

He stated in the recording, “You wouldn’t believe it, one night I got in jail in Starkville, Mississippi, for picking flowers. I was walking down the street” and “And uh, you know, going to get me some cigarettes or something. Bout two in the morning, after a show. I think it was.”

Cash added, “Anyway, I reached down and picked a dandelion here and a daisy there as I went along, and this car pulls up. He said, ‘Get it the hell in here, boy, what are you doing?’ I said, ‘I’m just picking flowers.’ Well, $36 for picking flowers and a night in jail.” Johnny Cash humorously concluded his statement, “No telling what they’d do if you pull an apple or something” and “I’d like to get back at the fella down in Starkville, Mississippi… that still has my $36.”

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