“Sweet Caroline” is ringing out in stadiums, pubs and living rooms across the nation once more this summer on the back of England Women’s run to the Euro 2022 final.
Neil Diamond’s classic rose to prominence last year when the men’s team reached the final of their own Euros, where they ultimately suffered penalty heartbreak against Italy.
With the women’s team hoping to go one further against Sweden at Wembley on Sunday, here’s everything you know about how “Sweet Caroline” became an unlikely football anthem.
Why is ‘Sweet Caroline’ a football song?
“Sweet Caroline” has a long association with sport, particularly in the United States.
The Boston Red Sox baseball team, for example, play it at every home game – a tradition dating back to 1997.
It is said the stadium DJ first played it in honour of a baby girl named Caroline, who had just been born to a member of team staff.
The tradition caught on and became a regular fixture at Fenway Park – and these days is also played by the NFL’s Carolina Panthers, among others.
In the UK, the song is popular at football clubs including Aston Villa and Chelsea, and will often be played over the stadium speaker after wins.
England cricket fans sing it from the stands, while it is also a long-standing favourite at boxing matches.
At last year’s men’s Euros, “Sweet Caroline” soared to prominence after Wembley DJ Tony Parry made the decision to play it after England’s win over Germany, when it went down a storm.
He told TalkSport: “I was going to play ‘Vindaloo’, but went with my gut. Even the German fans were belting it out in the end. It’s a song that all fans can enjoy.
“The match director said in my in-ear: ‘The world’s been closed for 18 months… let ’em have it’.”
Its popularity is very simple: it is a fun song to belt out in a group, with fans adding “so good, so good, so good” to the middle of the chorus.
Harry Kane was left speechless by the chants after the Germany win, while Gareth Southgate told the post-match press conference: “You can’t beat a bit of ‘Sweet Caroline’!”
The song’s status as an England football anthem has been reinforced with vengeance during England women’s run to the Euro 2022 final, with fans belting it out in emotional scenes following the semi-final demolition of Sweden.
Ahead of the tournament the teams’s head coach Sarina Wiegman, who hails from the Netherlands, joked that she needed to learn the words to Neil Diamond’s classic in an interview with TalkSport.
When asked if she had a grasp on the lyrics Wiegman replied: “No, not totally… sorry! I knew the song, but I have to practice a little more. I’m too focused on football.”
More on Women's Euro 2022
What are the lyrics to ‘Sweet Caroline’?
Where it began, I can’t begin to knowing
But then I know it’s growing strong
Was in the spring
And spring became the summer
Who’d have believed you’d come along
Hands, touching hands
Reaching out, touching me, touching you
Sweet Caroline
Good times never seemed so good
I’ve been inclined
To believe they never would
But now I
Look at the night and it don’t seem so lonely
We filled it up with only two
And when I hurt
Hurting runs off my shoulders
How can I hurt when holding you
One, touching one
Reaching out, touching me, touching you
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
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