RonJonSurfer Posted November 20, 2007 Report Share Posted November 20, 2007 Diamond reveals `Caroline' inspiration Neil Diamond held onto the secret for decades, but he has finally revealed that President Kennedy's daughter was the inspiration for his smash hit "Sweet Caroline." "I've never discussed it with anybody before — intentionally," the 66-year-old singer-songwriter told The Associated Press on Monday during a break from recording. "I thought maybe I would tell it to Caroline when I met her someday." He got his chance last week when he performed the song via satellite at Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg's 50th birthday party. Diamond was a "young, broke songwriter" when a photo of the president's daughter in a news magazine caught his eye. "It was a picture of a little girl dressed to the nines in her riding gear, next to her pony," Diamond recalled. "It was such an innocent, wonderful picture, I immediately felt there was a song in there." Years later, holed up in a hotel in Memphis, he would write the words and music in less an hour. "It was a No. 1 record and probably is the biggest, most important song of my career, and I have to thank her for the inspiration," he said. "I'm happy to have gotten it off my 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 enduring hit recently reappeared on the singles chart, thanks in part to the Boston Red Sox. "Sweet Caroline" is played at every home game. "I think they consider it good luck," Diamond said, adding that the Red Sox have become his favorite baseball team. The tune's return to the charts leaves Diamond "speechless," he said: "That song was written 40 years ago, so I am just overwhelmed by the fact that it has returned and that, more importantly, people have taken it into their hearts for so many years." Diamond is currently at work on a new album, his second collaboration with producer Rick Rubin. "We're both very excited about it," Diamond said. "I think it's going to be one of my best ever." ___ On the Net: http://www.neildiamond.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweet Jane 61 Posted November 20, 2007 Report Share Posted November 20, 2007 Cool story of the song. I'm not a big Neil fan but that is one song that when you hear you start singing along. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue_n_white Posted November 20, 2007 Report Share Posted November 20, 2007 Only song I ever attempted to sing while doing karaoke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonJonSurfer Posted November 20, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2007 The whole Kennedy / Boston Red Sox thing really comes together now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucky Posted November 21, 2007 Report Share Posted November 21, 2007 I heard this on television before I read it here. It really does all come together doesn't it? I am a huge Neil fan, and I love the song! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edna Posted November 21, 2007 Report Share Posted November 21, 2007 I thin we discussed that not so long ago... maybe a month? and we couldn´t find an answer... I´m not sure it was "Sweet Caroline" though... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonJonSurfer Posted November 21, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 21, 2007 I heard this on television before I read it here. It really does all come together doesn't it? I am a huge Neil fan, and I love the song! Wait a minute...you're telling me the network television media beat me to a story on SongFacts? I must be slipping. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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