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

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

Oh, China Grove



But every day 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 a 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