When the sun comes up on a sleepy little town 
down around San Antone 
and the folks are risin' for another day 
'round about their homes. 
The people of the town are strange 
and they're proud of where they came. 

Well, you're talkin' 'bout China Grove, wo, oh, oh, 
oh, China Grove. 

Well, the preacher and the teacher, 
Lord, they're a caution, they are the talk of the town. 
When the gossip gets to flyin' and they ain't lyin'; 
when the sun goes fallin' down. 
They say that the father's insane 
and dear Missus Perkin's a game. 

We're talkin' 'bout the China Grove, wo, oh, oh, 
oh, China Grove. 

But ev'ryday there's a new thing comin', 
the ways of an oriental view. 
The sheriff and his buddies 
with their samurai swords, 
you can even hear the music at night. 
And though it's part of the Lone Star State 
people don't seem to care, 
they just keep on lookin' to the East. 

Talkin' 'bout the China Grove, oh, China Grove.