Where did Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” come from?

There has always been a great deal of interest in the genesis of one of the most anthemic pop songs of the 1960s. To music lovers across the world, it is one of the emblematic songs of the 60s, a lively, catchy song to a girl known simply as Sweet Caroline. Now, 40 years after its release, the singer and songwriter Neil Diamond has revealed the inspiration behind the song: the Caroline in the song was Caroline Kennedy, now the only surviving child of President John F Kennedy.

Diamond, 66, revealed how he had never discussed the origins of the song with anyone, preferring to keep it a secret until the day he actually met Caroline face to face. Diamond let the cat out of the bag, telling both the press and the song's subject about its origin, when he finally met the now Caroline Bouvier Kennedy Schlossberg, and performed the song for her 50th birthday.

He stated that the song was so important to him and one of his first really big hits, going onto to be a massive seller. "I have to thank her for the inspiration," he said. The song really made his mark and left the public in no two minds that Neil was a great songwriter and performer. He told Associated Press that he was happy to have gotten it off his chest and to have expressed it to Caroline. "I thought she might be embarrassed, but she seemed to be struck by it and really, really happy."

The inspiration for the song came from a photograph of the then nine-year-old Kennedy the singer saw in a magazine while staying at a hotel in Memphis. "It was a picture of a little girl dressed to the nines in her riding gear, next to her pony," Diamond said. "It was such an innocent, wonderful picture; I immediately felt there was a song in there." A few years later, Diamond penned the song inspired by the photograph. It became a hit, reviving his flagging career and eventually selling more than 2 million copies and providing countless karaoke singers with a chance to shine.

The enduring hit recently reappeared in the singles chart in the US, thanks in part to the fact that it is belted out during home games at Fenway Park, home to the Boston Red Sox baseball team. "I think they consider it good luck," Diamond told the Associated Press, adding that the Red Sox have become his favourite baseball team. Just for memories, here are the words to the great song - you can hum along to the melody...

Where it began I cant begin to knowin But then I know its growin strong

Was in the spring And spring became the summer Whod have believed youd come along

Hands, touchin hands Reachin out Touchin me Touchin you

Sweet caroline Good times never seemed so good Ive been inclined To believe they never would

But now i Look at the night And it dont seem so lonely We fill it up with only two And when I hurt Hurtin runs off my shoulders How can I hurt when Im with you

Warm, touchin warm Reachin out Touchin me Touchin me

Sweet caroline Good times never seemed so good Ive been inclined To believe they never would Oh, no, no

Sweet caroline Good times never seemed so good Ive been inclined I believed they never could Sweet caroline

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