Brian Ritchie Religion Ruined My Life Lyrics

When I was five years old, I walked out of church and got hit by a car.
I suffered a brain concussion and was put in the hospital.
Many friends and relatives visited me there and brought lots of cool presents.
Then Reverend McKenzie came bringing a boring coloring book with bible stories.
I thought to myself, "If this man is in touch with God, would he bring such a lame present? No way!"
My Mother says I was never the same after that day.

Religion ruined my life, Hallelujah, religion ruined my life
Well I'm traumatized, permanantly scarred, hoisted by religion's petard

When I was twelve, my famiily switched churches because the one were attending wouldn't admit black people.
In Sunday School I would ask questions like, "How did they fit two of every species on that boat? There are no boats that large."
The minister told my parents, "He's causing doubt." I became the first child to be expelled from the church.
When I realized my religion wouldn't let blacks in and would kick a boy out,
it set me on a path of antisocial behaviour, which landed me in jail within three years.

Religion ruined my life, Hallelujah, religion ruined my life
Well I'm traumatized, permanantly scarred, hoisted by religion's petard

As an adult, I thought I was safe from religion.
But when I was 26, my wife took all the money I had saved from years of touring with the Violent Femmes and went into hiding in Jamaica.
I didn't see my young son for five months. She came under the spell of a Rastafarian con man and the money dissapeared.
We're divorced now. She's into Hindu and says she's raising my four year old boy to be a great spiritual leader.

Religion ruined my life, Hallelujah, religion ruined my life
Well I'm traumatized, permanantly scarred, hoisted by religion's petard