The Jim Carroll Band
The Jim Carroll Band
The Jim Carroll Band
The Jim Carroll Band
The Jim Carroll Band
The Jim Carroll Band
The Jim Carroll Band
The Jim Carroll Band
The Jim Carroll Band
The Jim Carroll Band
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
Redeemed through pain
Not through joy
I was two months early, they put me under glass
I screamed and cursed at children when the nurses passed
Was convicted of theft when 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
Redeemed through pain
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
But I'm a Catholic boy
Redeemed through pain
Not through joy
They can't touch me now
I got every sacrament behind me
I got baptism
I got communion
I got penance
I got extreme unction
I've got confirmation
'Cause I was a Catholic child
When the blood ran red
The blood ran wild
And now
Now I'm a Catholic man
I put my tongue to the rail whenever I can
Catholic Boy was written by Jim Carroll.
Catholic Boy was produced by Earl McGrath & Bob Clearmountain.
The Jim Carroll Band released Catholic Boy on Thu Jan 03 1980.