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 glass

I screamed and cursed their 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



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.





Copyright Earl McGrath Music/Jim Carroll Music ASCAP (1980