I was born in a pool Left in my mother's stand I spat at that surgeon and his tremblin' hand When I felt for life I was the nursery boy I stole the doctors scalpel and I slit the cord... I was a Catholic boy... I was Redeemed, detained...I be joy... I was two months early, they put me under-class I screamed and cursed at children with the nurse's pass Was convicted of theft as I slid from the womb They took me straight from my stroller to a cell in the tombs... I was a Catholic boy... Redeemed, detained...I be joy... They starved me for weeks, they thought they'd teach me fear I fed on cell-mates trees, it gave me flyin' ideas When they cut me loose, the time it served you well I made allies up in Heaven, and comrades in Hell I was a Catholic child... With the grand red...the grand wild... I make angels dance and drop to their knees When I enter a church the feet of the statue bleed I understand the faith of all my enemies With that Christ and a God, it's never me... I'm a Catholic boy... I was Redeemed, detained...and I be joy... I watched His sweetest psalms stolen by the choir I dreamed of all his bones hangin' from a wire I take the contribution, I get absolution I make the resolution to verify my soul... I'm a Catholic boy... Redeemed, detained...I be joy...