Neil Diamond reworks 'Sweet Caroline' with lyrics about washing hands, reminds fans about coronavirus precautions
Neil Diamond is the latest in a long line of artists that have decided to treat fans to a special at-home performance.
At a time when many are feeling quite low about having to stay cooped up at home due to the coronavirus scare, artists are finding creative ways to continue keeping people entertained while they practice social distancing and rigorous hand-washing. 'At-home concerts' are all the rage right now and have been drawing in huge online crowds as people join in the merry-making and share messages of hope and positivity with one another.
Diamond chose to try his hand at giving a performance online by reworking his classic hit 'Sweet Caroline' - coronavirus style!
The singer-songwriter posted his new version of the song to Twitter and began the video by saying "Hi everybody! This is Neil Diamond. I know we’re going through a rough time right now, but I love ya and I think maybe if we sing together, well, we’ll just feel a little bit better.” He adds, "Give it a try, OK?" and you really can't help but sing along.
The original song was written for John F Kennedy's 11-year-old daughter Caroline based on a picture Diamond saw of her horse-riding with her family. Diamond later performed the song for her at her 50th birthday celebration in 2007. But in 2014, he changed his story to say it was actually about his then-wife Marcia and he simply needed a three-syllable name to fit the melody he created.
The 79-year-old's reworking of the 1969 tune now features the lyrics "Where it began, I can’t begin to know when / 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, washing hands, reachin’ out / Don’t touch me, I won’t touch you / Sweet Caroline, good times never seemed so good / I’ve been inclined to believe they never would, but now I / I 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 I’m holding you? / Hands, washing hands, reachin’ out / Don’t touch me, I won’t touch you."
Diamond shared the catchy new version of 'Sweet Caroline' along with the caption, "Stay safe out there! “Hands... washing hands..”