Who is Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline?

by Paul O'Brien / Sunday, 21 May 2000 / Published in Fun

First published in 1996-ish for the first website I created in 1996, The Octopus’s Garden. Republished here for the sake of an archive of that article.

We have all done it, some more than others; standing in a bar one evening, arm in arm with friends, singing along to Sweet Caroline. I happen to be in the “more than others” group having spent almost every Thursday of my college life at The Vine Tavern in Tempe, AZ; on tables leading the chorus. With my introspection on Hotel California, American Pie, and other great classics, I’m disappointed in myself that it never occurred to me to ask, “Who was Sweet Caroline?”

The song, performed, and it should be no surprise written, by American music icon Neil Diamond was released on September 16, 1969. Besides appearing on countless greatest hits, karaoke, and compilation albums, the original release was on the album of the same name.

Where it began, I can’t begin to know when
But then I know it’s growing strong
Oh, wasn’t the spring, whooo
And spring became the summer
Who’d believe you’d come along

Hands, touching hands, reaching out
Touching me, touching you
Oh, sweet Caroline
Good times never seem so good
I’ve been inclined to believe it never would

And now I, I look at the night, whooo
And it don’t seem so lonely
We fill it up with only two, oh
And when I hurt
Hurting runs off my shoulder
How can I hurt when holding you

Oh, one, touching one, reaching out
Touching me, touching you
Oh, sweet Caroline
Good times never seem so good
Oh I’ve been inclined to believe it never would

Ohhh, sweet Caroline, good times never seem so good

Diamond revealed, in a 2007 interview, that the inspiration behind the song was daughter of former U.S. President, John F. Kennedy, Caroline. Having seen a photo of Carolines in a news magazine, Neil Diamond was inspired with the lyrics.

In the fall of 1969, Neil Diamond performed Sweet Caroline on several television shows leading to still popular covers from the likes of Andy Williams, Frank Sinatra, Bobby Goldsboro, Elvis Presley, Ray Conniff, and Waylon Jennings. More, the song has been redone in country, reggae, and even punk. Caroline herself reportedly asked to have the song performed at her fiftieth birthday party.

Having reached #4 on the Billboard charts and attaining platinum status, Sweet Caroline has even become a sports rally cry with fans around the world belting out the song with passion (though some in Boston and New York aren’t too happy about it)

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