Neil Diamond Reveals "Sweet Caroline" Inspiration
Neil Diamond has revealed one of his best-kept secrets — the true inspiration behind his hit "Sweet Caroline." Turns out it was Caroline Kennedy.
"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."
That day came last week, when Diamond performed the song via satellite at Caroline Kennedy's 50th birthday party.
Diamond admits that he first came across of a photo of Caroline, when he was a "young, broke songwriter."
"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."
Diamond ended up writing the song while shacked up in a Memphis, Tenn. Hotel room. The lyrics took him less than 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."
Diamond is now 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."
