Neil Diamond reveals his Inspiration for 'Sweet Caroline'

[DISUNC]

.................And it was Caroline Kennedy!

LOS ANGELES - 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.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21898988/

Sweet!

 

[salmoneous]

What? I thought he wrote it to give the folks at Fenway something to sing between innings.

 

[RSoxFan]

Aww, that's sweet. (no pun intended )

I've seen pictures of Caroline Kennedy when her father was President, and she really was an adorable little girl.

 

[barbeml]

Great story!

DH and I LOVE Neil. We (and DBIL) saw him in concert in Philly two years ago and it was fantastic. He sold out a bunch of shows...spent the whole concert on our feet with fans of ALL ages.

 

[daisax]

Kind of creepy for a grown man to write that song based on a photo of a little girl.

All that reachin' and touchin' and warmness... ew.

Hopefully it was just creative history on his part to suck up to Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg on her birthday.

 

[Daxx]

Here are the lyrics. I hardly believe it was written w/Caroline Kennedy in mind. Sounds rather peodphile-ish. The song was released in 1969 and Caroline Kennedy was born in 1957 which means he wrote the song about a 12 yo little girl. If it's true, then that's just wrong ... esp. the bold parts:

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 you

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

 

[Mermaid02]

I believe she could have inspired the song.... but then he went from there.... not the WHOLE song is about her.

 

[DVCLiz]

Oh, I'm so glad to see this - I thought I was the only one who was a little creeped out about this. Especially the warm, touchin' warm, reachin' out part - just a little too pedophile sounding!!!!

Now, if we could only get Carly Simon to admit that "You're So Vain" was about Warren Beatty, we could all die happy!!!

 

[salmoneous]

Here are the lyrics.

Sweet caroline
Bah, bah, bah
Good times never seemed so good
So good! So good! So good!
Ive been inclined
Bah, bah, bah
I believed they never could
Sweet caroline

I fixed your post a bit

 

[DISUNC]

Kind of creepy for a grown man to write that song based on a photo of a little girl.

How do you feel about little girls sitting on Santas lap???? JEEZ!

Here are the lyrics. I hardly believe it was written w/Caroline Kennedy in mind.

Why would you say that? He wrote the song, he would know better than you.


Really peeps, you taking a 'SWEET' story and turning into something very very dark & creepy!

 

[SwedishMeatball]

The song was inspired by a picture of her as a little girl, but the lyrics weren't written until several years later. Anyway, that dang song has now been stuck in my mind all day.

 

[Daxx]

Why would you say that? He wrote the song, he would know better than you.

B/c I think he was totally sucking up to CK! I wonder how many other "Caroline's" he's used that line on!??!

 

[daisax]

How do you feel about little girls sitting on Santas lap???? JEEZ!

If Santa's murmuring "warrrrrm... touching warrrrrrm.... " I'd grab the kid and run!

 

[Daxx]

If Santa's murmuring "warrrrrm... touching warrrrrrm.... " I'd grab the kid and run!

No kidding, right?! I'd be so out of there, too!!!!! I could see Neil saying "I loved your name and had to use it in a song" but to say that a photo of a 12 yo girl inspired him to write those lyrics????

 

[daisax]

In his defense, I think he said a photo of her as a very little girl all decked out in her riding outfit inspired the song.

But still... eww.

 

[Magickndm]

If Santa's murmuring "warrrrrm... touching warrrrrrm.... " I'd grab the kid and run!

 

[Daxx]

In his defense, I think he said a photo of her as a very little girl all decked out in her riding outfit inspired the song.

But still... eww.

I know. Again, I could totally understand if he said "I loved your name and had to use it in one of my songs ..." (greatest pick up line in the world, eh?) but to draw inspiration from a little girls photo w/those lyrics? Gag!!!!!!

 

[TinkerbellMama]

Thanks for this thread, DISUnc!
If I ever have a little girl, her name will be Caroline.
I think it's a great story, personally. I think a lot of this supposed perversion is in the mind of the beholder.

 

[DISUNC]

Thanks for this thread, DISUnc!
If I ever have a little girl, her name will be Caroline.
I think it's a great story, personally. I think a lot of this supposed perversion is in the mind of the beholder.

Thanks

 

[iggbees]

i think the picture of her just inspired him to write something about innocence, not necessarily that he is a pervert who likes little girls. besides, he's only 16 years her senior when he wrote the song he would have only been about 28 years old. what do you all think about hugh hefner he dates almost underage girls and he's 80!!! now that's disgusting! ew, yuck.