What is that Doobie Brother's song: "China Grove" about?

China Grove is such a great song. All I know that there is a small town near San Antonio called China Grove and I don’t have a clue what the lyrics of the song mean. Do you know?

China Grove lyrics

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

(chorus)
Well you’re talkin’
‘bout China Grove
(talkin’ ‘bout China Grove)
Woh oh oh
Woh 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 Mrs. Perkin’s a game

(chorus)

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

(instrumental)

Talkin’ ‘bout China Grove
(talkin’ ‘bout China Grove)
Woh oh oh
Woh oh, China Grove