Why is Sweet Caroline Sung at Fenway Park? Music History Music in Sports by da jack hayford - May 8, 2016July 3, 20230 “Good times never seemed so good.” Over the years there has been a lot of good-natured controversy and speculation about WHY Neil Diamond’s 1969 hit (peaked at #4) “Sweet Caroline” is raucously sung by the Fenway Faithful in the 8th inning of each Boston Red Sox home game. But it’s not because Neil’s last name is “Diamond” and he didn’t write it for JFK’s daughter Caroline. Those are myths. “The lyrics have nothing to do with baseball. The composer has no connection to the Red Sox. The song hit the charts more than 30 years ago…” The Boston Globe set the record straight: “[Amy] Tobey began working for the Red Sox through her job at BCN Productions, a film and video communications company, having interned for the Boston Bruins. Her assignment was to decide what music would be played at the park from 1998 to 2004. She had noticed “Sweet Caroline” was used at other sporting events, and she decided to send the sweetness over the Fenway speakers. The song was picked up by fans, and the more it caught on, the more superstitious Tobey became about playing it. Tobey would play the song somewhere between the seventh and ninth innings if the team was ahead, depending on whether she felt the team was going to win. She didn’t go by any specific margin of runs, but rather who the opponent was, and her gut instincts… In 2002, when new management took over at the park, they requested that Tobey play the song during the eighth inning of every game… Though Tobey says she was nervous the change would be bad luck for the team, its appeal to fans ultimately ruled… It was even included in the [Hollywood] film Fever Pitch starring Jimmy Fallon and Drew Barrymore, that appropriates scenes from 2004’s [World Series] winning season…. “ Sweet Caroline Lyrics (In case you want to sing along…)(Words and Music by Neil Diamond) Where it beganI can’t begin to knowin’But then I know it’s growin’ strong Was in the springAnd spring became the summerWho’d have believed you’d come along Hands, touchin’ handsReachin’ outTouchin’ meTouchin’ you Sweet Caroline (Whoa whoa whoa!)Good times never seemed so good (so good, so good, so good!)I’ve been inclinedTo believe they never would But now I look at the nightAnd it don’t seem so lonelyWe fill it up with only twoAnd when I hurtHurtin’ runs off my shouldersHow can I hurt when I’m with you Warm, touchin’ warmReachin’ outTouchin’ meTouchin’ you Sweet Caroline (Whoa whoa whoa!)Good times never seemed so goodI’ve been inclinedTo believe they never wouldOh, no, no Sweet Caroline (Whoa whoa whoa!)Good times never seemed so good (so good, so good, so good!)I’ve been inclinedI believed they never couldSweet Caroline Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)MoreClick to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Like this:Like Loading...