China Cat Sunflower was one of the first lyrics Robert Hunter wrote for the Dead - apparently he mailed it to them as a poem in mid-'67, and they later set it to music. The lyrics are quite consciously psychedelic: http://arts.ucsc.edu/gdead/agdl/china.html When Garcia sang the words, they could sound like a string of nonsense syllables.....but the words weren't the focus of the song, they were more a backdrop to the music. China Cat is one of the Dead's catchiest pieces, with an unstoppable riff, intertwining guitars, and memorable soaring solos - it might make even a non-deadhead tap their toes. Bob Weir later said, "China Cat Sunflower is just about the only song where Jerry ever taught  me a riff and told me that's what he wanted to hear. That little  arpeggiated lick was his."