Jim Carroll Band - 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
I was redeemed through pain
Not through joy

I was two months early, they put me under glass
I screamed and cursed at children when their nurses passed
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 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

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

Category:

Music

Tags:

• jim
• carroll
• band
• catholic
• boy

[stough1947]

They can't touch you now. Rest. Thanks for the show.

[KISSMEMYFOOL69]

Your were a great person Jim and I can totally relate. People like me and you have been through so much and most people will never understand. I completely understand what youve been through and I truly respect you for pulling yourself together and remaining strong the rest of your life.... R.I.P Jim <3

[ID1RS2]

I'm a teen, and a Catholic...this song can feed the teenager AND the Catholic out of me! Peace be with you Jim <3 R.I.P.

[wallyboo100]

@bronte7403 although classified as a "new Wave" artist Jim Carroll was the antidote to the ramones twisted bubblegum take as "punk rock" Jim was the ultimate punk,sophisticated,street bred, real as it ever got

[dannypmc2001]

Wow...this is a cracking band...nyc studio tight

[clemenza1234]

miss you, jimmy.....thank you for being such a tremendous inspiration on my own work :) i'll never be as good as you, though.....and i'm content with that. just so long as your work exists, makes me happy. to a legend, man....

[Shas01]

@poopmcscoopface yes he is deaded

[KISSMEMYFOOL69]

@shenked True.

[KISSMEMYFOOL69]

@zonkedhombre Well I guess youre right. He was probably still using ( because most people still do even if they say they dont) but he still went through alot of other crazy stuff and still tried to do better with his life than he did before right?

[poopmcscoopface]

did he died?

[BELL12366]

jim was the best

[rainbowskyz]

Redemed through pain, not through joy.  Love it.