Neil Diamond’s hit Sweet Caroline is one of the most recognizable songs ever.
Few songs can get a sing-a-long going better than this one.
But do people actually know what they are singing along to?
Who is Caroline? And what is the Sweet Caroline lyrics meaning?
It turns out the song is actually pretty straightforward.
Except for one thing: the name Caroline.
But we have the answer for that, too. Keep reading to learn all about the Sweet Caroline lyrics and their meaning.
Table of Contents
Sweet Caroline Lyrics And Meaning
The popular track Sweet Caroline was written by singer Neil Diamond and released on April 16, 1968. It was a popular hit back then, with the track peaking at number 4 on the Billboard Top 100
It was a great achievement considering that Diamond wrote it in an hour. And the success did not stop there. Sweet Caroline went on to be certified double-platinum by the BPI and platinum by the RIAA.
Just over 55 years after its release date, the song is still popular today. It is commonly used for various sporting events, such as boxing, baseball, and darts, to bring the crowd together to create an unforgettable atmosphere. Due to its ongoing popularity, Sweet Caroline recharted in the UK in 2021.
Sweet Caroline is a song that connects people together to share experiences, not only during celebratory events but also during harder times. The song was used to uplift the city of Boston in 2013 after the tragic marathon bombings, and again in 2020, when the world was hit by the coronavirus.
During the pandemic, Diamond started a global singalong to try and reconnect people during those uncertain times. It’s an uplifting song that’s full of energy. It allows you a moment of escapism and to be present with the positivity of the song.
Sweet Caroline is arguably Diamond’s most famous track. And it’s no surprise. It’s easy to sing along to, and it fills you with happy emotions.
With the success it has had since the late 1960s, it does not come as a shock that so many people love the song, including incredible artists. In 2022, Rod Stewart performed Sweet Caroline live in London at the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
Sweet Caroline Lyrics
Verse 1
Where it began
I can’t begin to know when
But then I know it’s growin’ strong
Was in the spring
And spring became the summer
Who’d have believed you’d come along?
Pre-Chorus
Hands, touchin’ hands
Reachin’ out, touchin’ me, touchin’ you
Chorus
Sweet Caroline
Good times never seemed so good
I’ve been inclined
To believe they never would
But now I…
Verse 2
Look at the night
And it don’t seem so lonely
We fill it up with only two
And when I hurt
Hurtin’ runs off my shoulders
How can I hurt when holdin’ you?
Pre-Chorus
One, touchin’ one
Reachin’ out, touchin’ me, touchin’ you
Chorus
Sweet Caroline
Good times never seemed so good
I’ve been inclined
To believe they never would
Oh no, no
Sweet Caroline
Good times never seemed so good
Sweet Caroline
I believe they never could
Sweet Caroline
Good times never seemed so good
Sweet Caroline Meaning
The meaning of Sweet Caroline revolves around love. Neil Diamond wrote it for his wife at the time. You’d be forgiven for assuming Diamond’s wife’s first name was Caroline, but in fact her name was Marcia Murphey.
You’re probably asking yourself: “Why, Caroline?” Well, Diamond required a three-syllable name and has confirmed, “The song was about my wife at the time; her name was Marcia, and I couldn’t get a Marcia rhyme.”
It has been confirmed in more recent times that Diamond got the name Caroline from seeing a picture of US President John Fitzgerald Kennedy’s daughter, Caroline, who was just a child at the time.
In 2007, Diamond performed the song at Caroline Kennedy’s 50th birthday, where he revealed to Caroline that it was a photo of her he saw in a magazine, that gave him the idea to use the name.
The lyrics of the song share the true feelings Diamond had in his relationship with his wife, Marcia, at the time. They express how much better his life is with her in it.
“Hands touching hands” expresses connection and intimacy between the two, while the line “Good times never seemed so good” expresses the feeling of allround love when you’ve met “the one.”
It’s when life seems perfect right in that moment. Like you have everything you’ve ever needed and more. “Look at the night, and it doesn’t seem so lonely,” portrays that Marcia has filled a void in Diamond’s life, since he is no longer lonely and instead has someone to share life with.
The positive, uplifting lyrics resonate with us in our personal lives in good times, while spreading a feeling of joy and a sense that brighter days are ahead when times are rough.
Sweet Caroline Lyrics Meaning: Final Thoughts
Now we know. Neil Diamond wrote Sweet Caroline about his wife. Her name was not Caroline, but Diamond himself has confirmed that the Sweet Caroline lyrics meaning is all about his wife. Caroline was simply a name that he was able to rhyme better.
He later disclosed that he landed on the name after seeing a photo of John F Kennedy’s daughter Caroline Kennedy. Given how catchy the song is and how people everywhere love to sing along to it, I have to agree that going with the name Caroline was the right move.
While this song is about a (I’m assuming) fairly strong relationship, some relationships are built on a weak foundation. Learn about a good example in our article on the Skinny Love lyrics meaning.
Leave a Reply