1973 Songs: China Grove
By Four Walls
@FourWalls (69440)
United States
May 4, 2023 11:40am CST
And the beat goes on! I’m still enjoying my time away from the madness of Derby Week, and I’m still enjoying the opportunity to give you another song that is now fifty years old. Timeless music, indeed! You may hear this one on the radio today. So sing along!
China Grove - The Doobie Brothers
WHAT?? Picky Wedia says the town is a figment of writer Tom Johnston’s imagination, despite the fact that there are towns named China Grove.
I’d feel ripped off it this song wasn’t so good. 
Truth be told, Wikipedia might be wrong. (No, that’s never happened. 
) The real China Grove, Texas really is “down around San Antone.” And there’s a picture online of a barbecue place that looks like a stereotypical Chinese temple.
Maybe Johnston wasn’t necessarily thinking about the town itself (or maybe he’d never been to it). But who cares. This song is great, and it probably didn’t hurt China Grove, Texas’s tourism any.
China Grove
Written by Tom Johnston
Recorded by The Doobie Brothers
From The Captain and Me, 1973
They just keep on looking to the east:
Truth be told, Wikipedia might be wrong. (No, that’s never happened. ) The real China Grove, Texas really is “down around San Antone.” And there’s a picture online of a barbecue place that looks like a stereotypical Chinese temple.
Maybe Johnston wasn’t necessarily thinking about the town itself (or maybe he’d never been to it). But who cares. This song is great, and it probably didn’t hurt China Grove, Texas’s tourism any.
China Grove
Written by Tom Johnston
Recorded by The Doobie Brothers
From The Captain and Me, 1973
They just keep on looking to the east:
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12 people like this
12 responses
Have a good one!
I was not aware of this song. It seems China has been popular even then.
The song is "perky" good for parties when everyone wants to dance even without dance skills, I mean it's bouncy and lively.
Well, if you say so.@FourWalls (69440)
• United States
5 May 23
Not a ballroom dancing song, but you can still move around to this one!
And no. “The Prisoner’s Song” is an old, old song (from 1924). This one’s only 50 years old.
And no. “The Prisoner’s Song” is an old, old song (from 1924). This one’s only 50 years old. 1 person likes this
@FourWalls (69440)
• United States
5 May 23
@Jenaisle — I’m 63, my sister-in-law is 70. No, it’s not old. 
@crossbones27 (49784)
• Mojave, California
4 May 23
Its always your fault when I go off the rails with music. When you play stuff like this I am its time to go rock! Now you all know where all my incoherent posts come from. Come on miss lady that was funny. The Doobie Brothers are always fun and rocking, can never go wrong there, but be warned may make you want to play more music.
1 person likes this
@crossbones27 (49784)
• Mojave, California
4 May 23
@FourWalls Indeed, how do people hate that? I will never understand this world. 
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (69440)
• United States
4 May 23
And get the munchies while you listen!!
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (108780)
• Marion, Ohio
5 May 23
I had to listen to it to remember it. I don't think I ever heard the name
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (69440)
• United States
5 May 23
Or you’re like me and went, “Oh, is that what they’re saying?”
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (108780)
• Marion, Ohio
5 May 23
@FourWalls I have done that with a lot of songs
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (69440)
• United States
5 May 23
I’m sort of stunned by the number of people who say they haven’t heard this, being it got and still gets a lot of airplay. Oh well, on to the next one.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (182925)
• United States
6 May 23
@FourWalls Depends on which station you listen to I guess.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
7 May 23
@FourWalls Totally agree. His walls were almost shaking at times from the rock songs!
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (69440)
• United States
5 May 23
Understandable. The older we get the better the old stuff sounds (because there’s nothing newer to compete with it).
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (50743)
• United States
4 May 23
The Doobie Brothers have some great music.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (69440)
• United States
4 May 23
Indeed they do! Great hits and some terrific album cuts!
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (81089)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
4 May 23
I know the Doobie Brothers but first time I hear this song,
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (69440)
• United States
4 May 23
Yeah I’m a Tom Johnston era fan more than Michael McDoobie.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (220708)
• Walnut Creek, California
4 May 23
@FourWalls Yep. Me too. Listen to the Music is still a favorite of mine.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (35809)
•
13 May 23
What a great album and song of course. Saw them in concert and they were more "than just alright" to me... Billy Payne, the pianist for Little Feat came up with the Oriental piano lick which spurred Tom to find his China groove, lol.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (69440)
• United States
13 May 23
Love Billy Payne’s work. Love Little Feat.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (69440)
• United States
5 May 23
It’s the album cover. Us old folks have heard this nonstop for 50 years.
