Catholic Boy

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 And 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 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 Cause I'm a Catholic boy Redeemed through pain, not through joy I watched the sweetest psalm stolen by the choir I dreamed of martyrs' bones hanging from a wire I made a contribution, I get absolution I make a resolution to purify my soul Cause 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'm a Catholic child 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