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

Refrain:
I was a catholic boy,
Redeemed through pain,
Not through joy

I was two months early they put me under gla*s
I screamed and cursed their children when the nurses pa*sed
Was convicted of theft when I slipped from the womb
They led me straight from my mother to a cell in the tombs

Repeat refrain

They starved me for weeks, they thought they'd teach me fear
I fed on cellmates' 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

Repeat refrain

I watched the sweetest psalm stolen by the 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

Repeat refrain

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'm a catholic child
The blood ran red
The blood ran wild!

Now I'm a catholic man
I put my tongue to the rail whenever I can.

Jim Carroll - A World Without Gravity : The Best Of The Jim Carroll Band

Aug 1993

1. People Who Died
2. Work Not Play
3. Differing Touch
4. It's Too Late
5. Wicked Gravity
6. I Want The Angel
7. Them
8. City Drops Into The Night (Live Version)
9. Dry Dreams
10. Jealous Twin
11. Plain Division
12. Voices
13. Lorraine
14. (No More) Luxuries
15. I Write Your Name
16. Love Crimes
17. Catholic Boy
18. Day And Night