When the [bad word] 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 there's Missus Perkin's again
We're talkin' 'bout the China Grove
Oh, China Grove

But every day there's a new [bad word] 
In praise 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 China Grove
Oh, China Grove