Pop Song 367 of 500 'Sweet Caroline' Neil Diamond 1969

Pop Song 367 of 500 'Sweet Caroline' Neil Diamond 1969

Diamond has provided different explanations for the song's origins. In a 2007 interview, Diamond stated the inspiration for his song was John F. Kennedy's daughter, Caroline, who was eleven years old at the time it was released. Diamond sang the song for her at her 50th birthday celebration in 2007. On December 21, 2011, in an interview on CBS's The Early Show, Diamond said that a magazine cover photo of Caroline as a young child on a horse with her parents created an image in his mind, and the rest of the song came together about five years after seeing the picture. However, in 2014, Diamond said the song was about his then-wife Marcia, but he needed a three-syllable name to fit the melody.

Where it began
I can't begin to know when
But then I know it's growin' strong
Was in the spring
And spring became the summer
Who'd have believe you'd come along?
Hands
Touchin' hands
Reachin' out
Touching me, touchin' you
Sweet Caroline
Good times never seemed so good
I've been inclined
To believe they never would
But now I look at the night
And it don't seem so lonely
We fill it up with only two
And when I hurt
Hurtin' runs off my shoulders
How can I hurt when holdin' you?
Warm
Touchin' warm
Reachin' out
Touchin' me, touchin' you
Sweet Caroline
Good times never seemed so good
I've been inclined
To believe they never would, oh, no, no
Sweet Caroline
Good times never seemed so good
Sweet Caroline
I believe they never could
Sweet Caroline