The Jim Carroll Band - Catholic Boy lyrics

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 gla** I screamed and cursed at children when their nurses pa**ed 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