It was a great story!
For years the lore has been that Neil Diamond's May 28, 1969 released song Sweet Caroline was an ode to the then young 11 year old daughter of late President John F. Kennedy and his wife, Jacqueline.
In 2014, the singer revealed the truth behind the hit.
"I was writing a song in Memphis, Tennessee for a session. I needed a three-syllable name for the chorus," Diamond said during an appearance on the NBC Today Show. "The love song was about my wife at the time .. her name was Marsha (Murphey) .. and I couldn't get a 'Marsha' rhyme. Sweet Caroline, yes! That was it. And that's what it's been."
Sweet Caroline has since become a staple track and in 2013 Diamond announced that he would donate the royalties to One Fund Boston to help those affected by the Boston Marathon bombing.
The song has been played at every Boston Red Sox home game for more than a decade and there was a spike in downloads after the April 2013 tragedy.
Diamond has since released his first album in six years entitled Melody Road and said on the Today Show that he "was a nervous wreck going into this new album."
Sweet Caroline has been a huge hit for Neil Diamond and we all knew the words when we heard it played at many Neil Diamond tribute Pops concerts in Bemus Point.
Be Safe.
Pat Locke
Maestro Muse
