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

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

Redeemed through pain

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

But 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 was a Catholic child

When 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