Why is Sweet Caroline a football song and who sang it?
The 12 - our new FREE email with all the news you need Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. I'M IN Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice  Move over Three Lions, there is a new anthem in town. Whilst Baddiel and Skinners 90s smash-hit remains as timeless as it is universally popular, Neil Diamonds 1969 hit Sweet Caroline has made itself heard, loud and clear. The song has proved a hit, with England fans at Wembley adopting the song during this summers Euro 2020 tournament. By taking a glance at the lyrics, as well as hearing the full song, it becomes very clear why it works so well as a football song. One noticeable line stands out as to why the song has proved popular: "Whod have believed youd come along"  You could be forgiven for believing that line was penned for Gareth Southgate, Harry Kane... or possibly even the European Championship trophy as the final comes into tantalising touching distance. In fact, the meaning of the song, as revealed by singer-songwriter Neil Diamond in a 2014 interview, was a love letter to his then wife, Marsha. The now 80-year old veteran needed a three-syllable name as he couldnt fit Marsha into a rhyme and from that moment Sweet Caroline flourished. The hit is just perfect for the football terraces, with the early verse and pre-chorus lending themselves seamlessly to mass participation. Its slow build-up to the crescendo of the chorus, mass explosion of song, completed with the so good, so good, so good chant mid-chorus, makes it the perfect song to sing at a football game. Elsewhere in the UK, there has been something of an uproar from Northern Ireland fans. The Green and White Army have been singing Sweet Caroline for almost 20 years now, including that 1-0 victory over Sven-Goran Erikssons England in 2005 and most famously, at Euro 2016 in France. However, now the Three Lions fans have muscled in and Wembley, London and the whole country will be bouncing tonight with a place in Sundays final at stake. Good times never seemed so good! (Verse 1)  Where it began, I cant begin to knowing  But then I know its growing strong  Was in the spring  And spring became the summer  Whod have believed youd come along  (Pre-Chorus)  Hands, touching hands  Reaching out, touching me, touching you  (Chorus)  Sweet Caroline  Good times never seemed so good  Ive been inclined  To believe they never would  (Verse 2)  But now I look at the night  And it dont 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  (Pre-Chorus)  One, touching one  Reaching out, touching me, touching you  (Chorus)  Sweet Caroline  Good times never seemed so good  Ive been inclined  To believe they never would  Oh no, no  (Outro)  Sweet Caroline  Good times never seemed so good  Sweet Caroline  I believe they never could  Sweet Caroline  Good times never seemed so good