November 22, 2007 Archives

Now a staple at karaoke bars, Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline" has been plaguing--oops, I meant "entertaining"--music fans for years. Forty years, actually. (Which is how long the Jews wandered, post-Egypt, in the desert before reaching the Holy Land. But I digress.)

But the song's inspirational origins are now revealed, as Diamond announced to the Associated Press (as reported in Yahoo! News) that he was inspired by a photo of then ten-year-old Caroline Kennedy suited up in her riding gear. Lest this sound creepy, let us allow Mr. Diamond to explain himself:

[...] "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, Tenn., he would write the words and music in less an hour.