Neil Diamond Reprises “Sweet Caroline” To Fans' Delight In Rare Sighting

Jun 24, 2022

Singer-songwriter Neil Diamond received some of his best-known success thanks to his soft, summer-minded song "Sweet Caroline," which he released after suffering somewhat of a slump in popularity in the late 60s. Diamond, who was inducted into both the Songwriters Hall of Fame (1984) as well as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2011), was then slightly irrelevant when he supposedly wrote "Sweet Caroline" in a motel. 

The single was allegedly inspired by the daughter of President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, who was then the darling of the White House. When the song was released in 1969, Caroline Kennedy was a sweet preteen. She was featured on the cover of LIFE wearing an equestrian outfit, aside from her pony. As perfect as it would be to have the story, "On Her Pony Macaroni: The Fun of Being Caroline Kennedy," at the heart of the beloved song, Diamond eventually corrected the record. 

In an interview, the legendary musician revealed that the song was actually for his partner, not the president's daughter. Recalling writing the instant classic, Diamond said, "I was writing a song in Memphis, Tennessee, for a session. I needed a three-syllable name." Diamond, who up until that point had sung about "Cherry" and "Holly," needed a muse with a longer moniker. First, he drew from real life, using his second wife's name, but failed. "The song was about my wife at the time — her name was Marcia — and I couldn't get a 'Marcia' rhyme," Diamond admitted.

It goes without saying that Diamond is an icon in all aspects of his life. He married his then-wife Marcia Murphey, a production assistant, in December 1969. Together, they had two children, Jesse and Micah. Their union lasted an impressive twenty-five years before the couple ultimately divorced in the early 1990s. While Diamond's marriage did not last forever, the song it inspired seems to have eternal life. Arranged by composer/producer Charles Calello and recorded at American Sound Studio in Memphis, the song features Calello on the instantly recognizable horn section as well as the strings. The local session group, The Memphis Boys, also added instrumentals to the track.

Diamond performed the single on television several times that year, which pushed the song to the number four spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in August 1969. It was then certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) shortly after that, selling over one million singles. "Sweet Caroline" also charted abroad, reaching the number eight spot on the UK singles chart in 1971, proving that even early on, the song had staying power. 

In the decades since its release, "Sweet Caroline," has gone on to receive endless praise and a place in American songwriting history. In 2019, "Sweet Caroline" was selected by the Library of Congress for inclusion in the National Recording Registry. Thus, it will be preserved due to being "culturally, distorically, or aesthetically significant." 

Beyond the halls of history, "Sweet Caroline" also unexpectedly found a home in sports stadiums worldwide, be they Irish football matches or American baseball games. 

The Carolina Panthers, the Iowa State Cyclones, the Pittsburgh Panthers, the Reading Football Club, the Swiss national football team, and even heavy-weight world champion Tyson Fury have all played the song during walks-ons and matches. Unlike other stadium rock, which is stereotypically over-the-top, "Sweet Caroline" stands in the opposite. And yet darts champions, cricket teams, and just about every sport in existence use it to conjure some success in their endeavors.

"Sweet Caroline" found a particular home with the Boston Red Sox, having been worked into their game night repertoire since at least 1997. The appearance of the song evolved into an eighth-inning tradition in 2002. Diamond has even made surprise performances at Fenway, singing along live with the stadium full of fans. After the Boston Marathon bombing, Diamond notably led the sing-along at Fenway. He also donated the royalties to the One Fund Boston charity, which helped those affected by the tragedy. 

In June, Diamond once again joined Red Sox fans in the home game tradition of singing "Sweet Caroline" during the eighth inning of a game against the St. Louis Cardinals. The Sox went on to win the match-up 6 to 4, but perhaps the more memorable moment was the song. Wearing a Red Sox varsity jacket and matching Red Sox cap, Diamond led the sing-along from the balcony. During the song's iconic bah-bah-bah, Diamond held the mic out over the audience, who gladly, enthusiastically sang in his place. The jumbotron panned over the stadium, catching the glowing faces of the fans, who happily joined Diamond in singing, "good times never seemed so good."

What was your favorite memory of singing “Sweet Caroline”? Let us know — and be sure to pass this article on to friends, family, and fellow Neil Diamond fans!