Neil Diamond said he's happy his 'Sweet Caroline,' a staple of Boston Red Sox games, can provide comfort after the Boston Marathon bombing.
The New York Yankees, Toronto Raptors and other professional sports teams have played the song at games in the days after Monday's deadly blasts, with fans and players often singing along.
'There is a lot of comfort that music can offer,' Diamond told The Associated Press.
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Neil Diamond says he's happy if his song 'Sweet Caroline' can bring comfort to some after the Boston Marathon bombings
Yankees fans honored their Boston, rivals, by singing along to the Neil Diamond after the third inning against Arizona
'In this particular situation, I'd much rather it not have happened than for `Sweet Caroline' to become part of it. But it's obviously offering comfort to people and I feel good about that.'
Diamond spoke Thursday night at the Rock and Roll Hall induction ceremony.
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He said he intended the song, first released in 1969 and addressed to Caroline Kennedy, to offer solace.
'I wrote it in a hotel in Memphis, Tennessee,' he said.
'And I think there's a little bit of God in that song. I always have felt that. There's no accounting for what can happen to a song. But this one had something special to it.'
Tuesday night, the The New York Yankees put aside rivalries and paid tribute to victims of the Boston Marathon bombings last night by playing Diamond's hit.
Other teams around the majors did the same. The popular sing-along song has been featured at Boston Red Sox home games since 2002.
Yankees pay tribute to Boston Red Sox with 'Sweet Caroline'
Diamond told reporters the song was 'obviously offering comfort to people and I feel good about that.'
The Yankees honored Boston, home of their longtime rivals, by playing the Neil Diamond hit over the public-address system after the third inning against Arizona.
Yankees fans sang along, and some people in the crowd wore Red Sox hats and jerseys.
'Thank you NY Yankees for playing 'Sweet Caroline' for the people of Boston,' Diamond wrote on his Twitter page. 'You scored a home run in my heart. With respect, Neil.'
A ribbon was shown on the scoreboard displaying the insignia of the Red Sox and Yankees and the words: 'New York stands with Boston ... Pray for Boston.'
There also was a pregame moment of silence. A message that read 'United We Stand' showing the Red Sox and Yankees logos was posted on an electronic board atop the ballpark.
Neil Diamond happy 'Sweet Caroline' can bring comfort to Boston
