I learned to drive my daddy's old pickup truck
Down in the orange grove
I'd nearly get a whippin' when I'd get the truck stuck
Down in the orange grove
I wore out my first pair of Brogan shoes
Down in the orange grove
And that's where I learned how to sing the blues
Down in the orange grove

I learned to pray to the lord up above
The very first time I ever tasted love was
Down in the orange grove
Down in the orange grove

You learn the value of a dollar when the sun gets hot
Down in the orange grove
The boss wants more and you give it all you've got
Down in the orange grove
We'd have to light the smudge pots when it'd come a freeze
Down in the orange grove
And work all night just to save the trees
Down in the orange grove

I never will forget all the lessons I learned
Or the work I did for the money I earned
Down in the orange grove
Down in the orange grove
Well the big freeze came; now the trees are gone
Down in the orange grove
They cleared the land and they've built new homes
Down in the orange grove
Then the canker hit back in '84
Down in the orange grove
Now there's shopping malls and grocery stores
Down in the orange grove

It made a lot of people happy when the progress came
But deep down I know it won't be the same
Down in the orange grove
Down in the orange grove
Down in the orange grove