Introduction
Sweet Caroline is a song written and performed by American singer-songwriter Neil Diamond. It was released in May 1969 as a single with the title “Sweet Caroline (Good Times Never Seemed So Good)”. The song reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and was certified gold by the RIAA on August 18, 1969, for sales of one million singles. “Sweet Caroline” was also the first of 58 entries on the US Easy Listening chart, peaking at No. 1.
The song’s origins are somewhat mysterious. Diamond has said that he wrote the song in his hotel room in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1969, while on tour. He has also said that the song was inspired by Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of then-President John F. Kennedy, but he has later retracted this statement.
The song’s lyrics are open to interpretation, but they seem to be about a woman named Caroline who is going through a tough time. The singer offers her words of encouragement and tells her that he will always be there for her.
“Sweet Caroline” has become a popular anthem at sporting events, especially in Boston, where it is played during the eighth inning of every Red Sox home game. The song has also been used in many movies and TV shows.
In 2021, “Sweet Caroline” was ranked No. 217 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.