Sweet Caroline oDDBall

The fact I cannot sing does not mean I will not
"Sweet Caroline" is one of Neil Diamond's most iconic and enduring songs, a feel-good anthem from 1969 that's still belted out at sports events, weddings, parties, and karaoke nights worldwide.
Background and Release
Neil Diamond wrote and recorded the song in 1969, completing it quickly in a Memphis hotel room right before a recording session at American Sound Studio. It was released as a single on May 28, 1969, and appeared on his album Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show. The full title is often given as "Sweet Caroline (Good Times Never Seemed So Good)" — a nod to its hugely singable chorus.
It became a major hit, peaking at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US (certified gold for over a million sales shortly after). It also charted well internationally and has been covered by many artists over the decades, including Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra.
The Lyrics and Vibe
The song is an upbeat celebration of love and joy, with lines like:

"Where it began, I can't begin to knowing..."
"Hands, touching hands / Reaching out, touching me, touching you..."
And the massive, crowd-chanting chorus: "Sweet Caroline / Good times never seemed so good / So good! So good! So good!"

It's that classic call-and-response style in live settings — the audience shouts back the "ba ba ba!" and "so good!" parts — which is why it's such a staple at Boston Red Sox games at Fenway Park (they've played it during the 8th inning stretch since the early 2000s, and it became especially symbolic after the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, with Diamond even performing it there and donating royalties to victims).
The Inspiration — A Bit of a Mystery
Neil Diamond has given varying accounts over the years:

In 2007, he revealed it was inspired by a childhood photo he saw years earlier of Caroline Kennedy (daughter of President John F. Kennedy), riding her pony in an innocent, "sweet" magazine picture. The image stuck with him, and he performed the song at her 50th birthday party that year.
In 2014, he clarified that the song was actually about his then-wife Marcia Murphey (they married in 1969, the same year the song came out; they divorced in 1995). He needed a three-syllable name that fit the melody and rhyme ("Sweet Marcia" just didn't work), so he used "Caroline" — possibly sparked or influenced by that old photo of Caroline Kennedy for the name choice.

The consensus from his interviews seems to be a mix: the real romantic subject was his wife, but the name "Caroline" came from needing something that scanned perfectly, with a possible subconscious nod to that wholesome image of young Caroline Kennedy.
It's a timeless tune — simple, uplifting, and perfect for group sing-alongs. If you've ever been to a sporting event or a wedding where everyone suddenly starts singing it, that's the magic of "Sweet Caroline"! 🎶