(I GOT A) CATHOLIC BLOCK
   
Originally Released on:

SISTER

also appears on:

  • Hold That Tiger (live '87)
  • MIX TAPE #3 (live '90)
  • Buy Early Get Now pre-order promo mp3 (demo)
  • Rarities 3 (demo)
  • 05/22/87 "LIVE AT CITY GARDENS 1987"
  • 06/21/87 "LIVE IN TORINO 1987"
  • 11/03/90 "LIVE IN IRVINE 1990"
  • 03/05/93 "LIVE AT THE WARFIELD 1993"
  • 11/15/95 "LIVE IN AUSTIN 1995"
  • 06/24/06 "LIVE IN DALLAS 2006"

  • Underground Rhythm & Noise (live '87)
  • Good Feeling (live '87)
  • Submerge Yourself in Sound (live, '90)

Line-up:
Thurston - guitar/vocals
Kim - bass/howl
Lee - guitar
Steve - drums

Lyrics   status: confirmed

I got a catholic block
Inside my head
I let it go to work
Bring it all back home
It serves you right
And I can motor down
You got to earn your freedom
Get it on my own
I just live forever
There just is no end
I just trust the oppression
Like I trust your friends
I got a catholic block
Inside my head
I let it play around
Iron to gold

Come back to me a while

I got a catholic block
It's around my head
I got a catholic block
And it's blood orange red
I got a catholic block
Do you like to fuck?
I got a catholic block
I guess I'm out of luck

Track length: 3:26

First Known Performance: 04/23/87
Last Known Performance:  12/30/10

NOTES:

  • Marks the first use of an acoustic guitar melodically on a Sonic Youth album (played by Lee). I say "melodically" because he did use one on Ghost Bitch, but for drastically different results.
  • The photograph below is a scan of an early scratch set of lyrical ideas for this tune (w/ one line from Cotton Crown).
  • The title and very early lyric are referenced on a June 1983 document made during SY's first European tour.
  • A bell sound almost resembling a toy music box can be heard at 2:41.
  • Resurfaced in live sets in 2003, last played in '96.
  • Jim O'Rourke played guitar on this song while he was in the band.

ALTERNATE VERSIONS:

  • "BUY NOW GET EARLY" free mp3 - DEMO - 6:35

    An extended instrumental demo given away to those who pre-ordered The Eternal.

  • On "Underground Rhythm and Noise" and "Good Feeling" - LIVE - ?

    Recorded live on 06/04/87 at the Town and Country in London, England.

  • On "Hold That Tiger" - LIVE - 3:55

    Recorded live on 10/14/87 at the Cabaret Metro in Chicago, Illinois. Segued into from "Pipeline".

  • On "Submerge Yourself in Sound" and "Mix Tape #3" - LIVE - 3:46

    Recorded live on 11/03/90 in Irvine, CA @ Crawford Hall. Same gig as 'Dirty Boots' EP.