Studio version
Well I met up with Saint Peter, he was working at the pearly gates
He said I can't let you in right now, you're gonna have to wait
So sit back and take it easy and kick off both your shoes
Grab yourself a beer right now while I watch the evening news
Well the jackals leave here laughing as they slip into the night
How did something so beautiful turn into idiot's delight
He said what makes them all so stupid, ah what I cannot tell
Maybe I should go down there so I show them just a little hell
But would they get the message, would anybody learn
Ah such a mighty effort leads to such a small return
Well the jackals leave here laughing as they slip into the night
How did something so beautiful turn into idiot's delight
Sometimes I get so angry and my blood begins to boil
I must have put my seed into some kind of mutant soil
They don't understand a thing, they ain't got no respect
They sure do keep me laughing man, so what the heck
Well the jackals leave here laughing as they slip into the night
How did something so beautiful turn into idiot's delight
Idiot's delight
Whoa!
IDIOT'S DELIGHT is a song written by Joe Grushecky and Bruce Springsteen in July 1995, with Springsteen providing most of the music and Grushecky most of the lyrics. The song was released by Joe Grushecky & The Houserockers in 1997. See Joe Grushecky & The Houserockers' cover version version for more details.
After remaining unheard by fans for more than two decades, a studio version of IDIOT'S DELIGHT with Bruce Springsteen on vocals was broadcast on Sirius XM's E Street Radio channel on 03 Jun 2020, during Springsteen's own From His Home To Yours program. The above lyrics are for Bruce Springsteen's studio version of IDIOT'S DELIGHT. Following the song, Springsteen said that this was "a track from our vault, written by Joe and I, and debuted here for the first time."
IDIOT'S DELIGHT was performed once during what is known as The Reunion Tour (132 dates, April 1999 to July 2000), on 25 Apr 2000 in Pittsburgh, PA. The song featured a guest appearance by Joe Grushecky.
IDIOT'S DELIGHT was performed 10 times during the Devils & Dust Solo Acoustic Tour (72 dates, April to November 2005), all in October 2005. The song was played with a bullet microphone.
IDIOT'S DELIGHT was performed off-tour on 02 Mar 1998 at Nick's Fat City in Pittsburgh, PA, during a guest appearance with Joe Grushecky & The Houserockers.
IDIOT'S DELIGHT was performed during the fifth (2004) annual Light Of Day benefit. The song was played with Joe Grushecky & The Houserockers.
At least one artist has recorded and released Bruce Springsteen's IDIOT'S DELIGHT.
List of available versions of IDIOT'S DELIGHT on this website:
IDIOT'S DELIGHT [Studio version]