Catholic Boy Lyrics - Singles - Jim Carroll

I was born in a pool, they made my mother stand 

And I spat on that surgeon and his trembling hand 

When I felt the light I was worse than bored 

I stole the doctor's scalpel and I slit the cord 

I was a Catholic boy 

I was redeemed through pain 

Not through joy 

I was two months early, they put me under glass 

I screamed and cursed at children when their nurses passed 

I was convicted of theft as I slipped from the womb 

They led me straight from my mother to a cell in the tombs 

I was a Catholic boy 

I was redeemed through pain 

Not through joy 

They starved me for weeks, they thought they'd teach me fear 

I fed on cell mates' dreams, it gave me fine ideas 

When they cut me loose, the time had served me well 

I made allies in heaven, I made comrades in hell 

I was a Catholic child 

The blood ran red 

The blood ran wild 

I make angels dance and drop to their knees 

When I enter a church the feet of statues bleed 

I understand the fate of all my enemies 

Just like Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane 

I was a Catholic boy 

I was redeemed through pain 

An not through joy 

I watched the sweetest psalm stolen by our choir 

I dreamed of martyrs' bones hanging from a wire 

I make a contribution, I get absolution 

I make a resolution to purify my soul 

I'm a Catholic boy 

Redeemed through pain 

Not through joy 

And they can't touch me now 

I got every sacrament behind me 

I got baptism, I got penance 

I got communion, I got extreme unction 

Man, I've got confirmation 

I was a Catholic boy 

Redeemed through pain 

And not through joy 

And now I'm a Catholic man 

I put my tongue to the rail whenever I can