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Catholic Boy (feat. Pearl Jam and Chris Friel) Lyrics by Jim Carroll

The Basketball Diaries (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

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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
Credits
Jim Carroll

Jim Carroll

About “Catholic Boy (feat. Pearl Jam and Chris Friel)” by Jim Carroll

Read the complete lyrics to "Catholic Boy (feat. Pearl Jam and Chris Friel)" by Jim Carroll from the album "The Basketball Diaries (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)". On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Pop.

"Catholic Boy (feat. Pearl Jam and Chris Friel)" is performed by Jim Carroll. from the album "The Basketball Diaries (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)" This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "Catholic Boy (feat. Pearl Jam and Chris Friel)", explore more songs by Jim Carroll using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"Catholic Boy (feat. Pearl Jam and Chris Friel)" is credited to Jim Carroll. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"Catholic Boy (feat. Pearl Jam and Chris Friel)" appears on "The Basketball Diaries (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)".

Visit the Jim Carroll artist page at /artist/jim-carroll for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.